ILLINOIS  HISTORICAL  SURVEY 


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IkWNQIS  HISTORICAL  SURVEY 


REPORT 


OF  THE 


INVESTIGATING  COMMITTEE 


ON  THE 


HOSPITAL  POE  THE  INSANE, 


MADE  TO  THE 


GOVERNOR  OF  ILLINOIS, 

DECEMBER  1,  1367. 


SPRINGFIELD  : 

ILLINOIS  JOURNAL  PRINTING  OFFICE, 

1869, 


REPORT. 


To  JEfis  Excellency ,  Governor  Oglesby: 

At  the  last  regular  session  of  the  Legislature  of  this  State,  the 
following  joint  resolutions  were  adopted  by  that  body — 

Whereas,  There  are  reports  in  circulation  in  the  public  press  and  elsewhere, 
reflecting  upon  the  management  of  the  Hospital  for  the  Insane,  thereby 
tending  to  injure  the  reputation  of  the  superintendent,  and  to  impair  the 
usefulness  of  that  important  institution ;  therefore, 

Resolved ,  the  Senate  concurring,  That  a  joint  committee  of  three  from  this 
House  and  two  from  the  Senate,  be  appointed  to  visit  the  Hospital  for  the 
Insane,  after  the  adjournment  of  the  Legislature,  at  such  times  as  they  may 
deem  necessary,  with  power  to  send  for  persons  and  papers,  and  to  examine 
witnesses  on  oath.  That  said  committee  be  instructed  thoroughly  to  examine 
and  inquire  into  the  financial  and  sanitary  management  of  said  institution  ; 
to  ascertain  whether  any  of  the  inmates  are  improperly  retained  in  the 
hospital,  or  unjustly  placed  there,  and  whether  the  inmates  are  humanely 
and  kindly  treated,  and  to  confer  with  the  trustees  of  said  hospital  in  regard 
to  the  speedy  correction  of  any  abuses  found  to  exist,  and  to  report  to  the 
Governor  from  time  to  time,  at  their  discretion. 

And  be  it  further  resolved,  That  said  committee  be  instructed  to  examine 
the  financial  and  general  management  of  the  other  State  institutions. 

In  pursuance  thereof,  the  undersigned  were,  on  the  28th  day 
ot  February  last,  appointed  such  committee. 

Contemplating  the  possible  contingency  that  official  action  in 
respect  to  matters  covered  by  the  foregoing  resolutions  might  be 
necessary  before  the  next  session  of  the  Legislature,  it  will  be 
observed,  the  committee,  instead  of  being  required  to  report  the 
result  of  their  investigations  to  the  Legislature,  were  directed  to 
“  confer”  with  the  trustees  of  the  Hospital  for  the  Insane  “in  regard 
to  the  speedy  correction  of  any  abuses  found  to  exist,  and  to 
report  to  the  Governor  from  time  to  time  at  their  discretion.  ” 

?  ?.*<><• 

>  11 1  0 


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It  will  also  be  observed,  that  although  the  committee  are 
“  instructed  to  examine  the  financial  and  general  management  of 
the  other  State  institutions,”  it  is  only  recited  that  “  there  are 
reports  in  circulation  in  the  public  press  and  elsewhere  reflecting 
upon  the  management  of  the  Hospital  for  the  Insane and  it  is 
only  with  the  trustees  of  that  institution  that  •  the  committee  are 
specially  directed  to  “  confer  ”  with  reference  to  the  correction  of 
“  any  abuses  found  to  exist/’ 

Aside  from  the  great  interest  connected  with  the  management 
of  our  other  benevolent  State  institutions,  it  is  not  strange  that 
grave  charges  (founded,  it  may  be  in  a  majority  of  cases,  upon 
mere  rumor  or  bare  apprehension),  that  the  Hospital  for  the 
Insane  was  either  negligently  or  corruptly  managed,  should 
result  in  ordering  a  prompt  and  searching  inquiry  into  the  truth 
or  falsity  of  such  charges  ;  and  especially  so  when  it  is  considered, 
as  will  be  shown  hereafter  in  this  report,  that  since  the  opening 
of  the  hospital,  November  3d,  1851,  and  prior  to  December  1st, 
1866,  over  twenty-five  hundred  patients  were  admitted  for  treat¬ 
ment;  that  about  four  hundred  thousand  dollars  had  been  expend¬ 
ed  by  the  State  for  lands  and  buildings  to  establish,  and  six  hun¬ 
dred  thousand  dollars  for  current  expenses  in  maintaining  this 
cherished  State  institution ;  and  that  by  such  munificent  appro¬ 
priations  by  the  people,  its  capacity  had  been  increased  until  five 
hundred  of  this  unfortunate  and  afflicted  class  can  be  constantly 
provided  for,  and  will  soon,  at  a  probable  expense  to  the  State  of 
$100,000  per  annum,  be  under  its  supervision  and  government. 

The  State  has  not  only  a  large  pecuniary  investment  in  this 
hospital,  but  the  most  delicate  and  solemn  trusts  are  committed  to 
those  who  are  responsible  for  its  control.  Everything,  therefore, 
concerning  its  financial,  medical,  sanitary,  or  moral  government, 
is  not  only  of  absorbing  interest  to  those  who  may  have  friends 
and  relatives  there,  but  also  to  the  whole  people  of  the  State  whose 
pride  it  has  been  to  found  and  support  this  institution  which  rep¬ 
resents  its  intelligence  and  public  spirit,  and  is  worthy  of  a  first 
class  American  State.  And  the  fact  that  unusual  and  peculiar 
qualifications  are  required  for  the  proper  government  and  treat¬ 
ment  of  the  insane,  in  the  opinion  of  the  committee,  affords  no 
good  reason  why  a  rule  of  strict  and  even  rigid  accountability 
should  not  be  applied  to  those  who  have  a  personal  supervision 
over  them,  for  kindness  and  forbearance  in  their  government  are 

Mi  ^  ' 


Stj. 


5 


demanded  alike  by  the  dictates  of  humanity  and  common  decency. 
When  the  committee  were  appointed,  on  the  last  day  of  the 
session,  no  member  had,  or  pretended  to  have,  either  any  per¬ 
sonal  knowledge  or  opinion  concerning  the  merits  of  the  com¬ 
plaints  made.  As  there  was  no  person  appointed  as  agent  or 
allowed  to  represent  the  State  in  the  collection  of  testimony  for 
the  consideration  of  the  committee,  nor  authority  given  the  com¬ 
mittee  to  employ  such,  they  were  in  doubt  what  precise  course  to 
adopt  under  the  resolutions  providing  for  their  appointment. 
Believing  it  to  be  their  duty  to  proceed  as  early  and  speedily  as 
possible  to  ascertain  all  important  facts,  they  entered  upon  the 
discharge  of  the  duties  devolved  upon  them  with  a  most  anxious 
solicitude  and  hope  that  without  any  palliation  or  concealment  of 
any  wrong,  a  thorough  examination  of  the  whole  subject  might 
result  in  a  full  vindication  of  the  management  of  those  institutions, 
and  an  entire  acquittal  from  censure  of  the  Superintendent  of  the 
Hospital  for  the  Insane,  and  those  with  whom  he  had  been  associated. 

The  committee  first  met  at  the  Dunlap  House,  in  Jacksonville, 
on  the  14th  of  May,  and  after  a  full  and  free  consultation  as  to 
the  general  duties  devolving  upon  them,  and  the  mode  of  proce¬ 
dure  proper  to  be  adopted,  decided  to  hold  their  sessions  in 
private  and  allow  no  publication  to  be  made  of  their  consultations 
or  the  evidence  taken  until  otherwise  determined  by  them.  They 
were  aware  that  secret  sessions  of  public  bodies,  or  persons 
charged  with  public  duties,  are  not  usually  acceptable,  and  are 
generally  opposed  to  that  spirit  of  free  inquiry  common  to  our 
people  ;  but  they  believed  that  for  many  obvious  reasons  no  possi¬ 
ble  good  would  result  from  public  sessions,  provided  a  full  journal 
should  be  kept  of  their  procedings,  and  hereafter  submitted  to  you 
or  made  public,  as  might  hereafter  be  deemed  proper ;  and  this 
policy  has  been  adhered  to  throughout  the  investigation.  A 
complete  journal  has  been  kept  of  their  proceedings ;  the  testi¬ 
mony  has  been  taken  by  a  stenographer  and  transcribed  and 
copied ;  and  the  same,  covering  several  hundred  pages,  is  sub¬ 
mitted  as  a  part  of  this  our  report. 

The  first  and  chief  inquiry  was  concerning  the  management  of 
the  Hospital  for  the  Insane,  and  the  committee  were  directed  to 
ascertain — 

1st.  Concerning  its  financial  and  sanitary  management. 

2d.  Whether  any  of  the  inmates  were  improperly  retained  there. 


•  % 


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3d.  Whether  any  were  unjustly  placed  there. 

4th.  Whether  they  were  humanely  and  kindly  treated. 

No  formal  written  charges  have  been  made  to  the  committee 
against  the  officers  of  the  hospital,  nor  any  formal  defense  inter¬ 
posed  ;  but  the  character  of  the  above  inquiries  directed  to  be 
made,  and  the  testimony  wThick  from  time  to  time  has  been 
received,  substantially  disclosed  the  following  issues  or  points  of 
controversy. 

COMPLAINTS. 

The  principal  complaints  seem  to  be — 

1st.  Extravagant  expenditures  of  money  in  the  management, 
and  a  want  of  proper  sanitary  regulations. 

2d.  Retaining  patients  not  insane. 

3d.  Admitting  patients  without  the  proper  legal  evidence  of 
their  insanity — such  as  a  trial  and  proper  certificates  and  security 
as  required  by  law. 

4th.  Abuse  of  patients  by  officers  and  attendants  by  blows,  by 
neglect,  and  by  appliances  not  necessary  to  their  proper  personal 
restraint  and  government,  and  by  an  improper  association  of 
patients. 

DEFENSE. 

The  defense  interposed  by  the  trustees  and  superintendent, 
seems  to  be  a  general  denial  of  all  these  charges,  and  it  is 
insisted — 

1st.  That  the  amount  expended  in  the  land  and  buildings  is 
not  more  than  expenditures  made  in  other  States  according  to  the 
number  provided  for. 

2d.  That  the  current  expenses  of  the  institution,  have  been  no 
more  than  an  economical  administration  of  its  affairs  actually  re¬ 
quired  ;  that  no  supernumerary  officers  or  employes  have  been  paid ; 
and  that  in  respect  to  these  expenses  they  will  compare  favorably 
with  other  similar  institutions— and  that  the  sanitary  condition  of 
the  hospital  has  been  good,  except  during  a  part  of  the  time, 
when,  from  defective  drainage  and  ventilation,  and  for  which 
they  were  not  responsible,  it  has  been  temporarily  otherwise. 

od.  That  patients  have  been  invariably  discharged,  upon  re¬ 
covery,  or  as  soon  thereafter  as  their  friends  or  authorities  sending 
them  there  would  remove  them  ;  and  that  incurable  patients  have 


7 


been  frequently  discharged  to  'equalize  representation  by  coun¬ 
ties,  and  make  room  for  new  applicants. 

4th.  That  if  any  persons  have  been  admitted  without  a  trial  of 
their  insanity,  they  have  been  married  women  or  infants,  who 
were  admitted,  according  to  law  in  force  at  the  time  of  admission; 
and  that  if  any  persons  have  been  received  without  the  security 
required  by  law,  it  has  been  inadvertently  done,  and  not  in  bad 
faith. 

5th.  That  proper  circumspection  has  been  practiced  by  the  ofii- 
cers,  in  respect  to  the  selection  of  attendants  who  have  the  prin¬ 
cipal  personal  custody  and  care  of  the  patients,  and  a  rule  of 
unvarying  kindness  to  patients  has  been  enjoined  upon  them  ; 
that,  so  far  as  the  Superintendent  and  Trustees  are  informed  and 
believe,  the  patients  have  been  generally  treated  kindly;  and 
that,  while  there  have  been  instances  of  abuse  of  patients,  yet 
they  are  incidental  and  unavoidable  in  their  government,  and  all 
such  as  were  known  have  received  attention  and  investigation, 
and  the  guilty  parties  reprimanded,  discharged  or  punished,  ac¬ 
cording  as  the  circumstances  of  each  case  seemed  to  require. 

6th.  That  in  the  government  of  the  patients,  the  principle  of 
punishment  has  been  studiously  ignored,  and  only  such  restraints 
have  been  used  or  imposed  upon  them  as  are  usual  and  proper  in 
the  other  institutions  of  similar  character. 

7th.  That  the  association  and  classification  of  patients,  in 
wards,  as  practiced  in  the  institution,  is  in  accordance  with  the 
present  usage  in  Europe  and  this  country. 

As  the  principal  rumors  or  complaints  were  of  cruelty  to 
patients,  that  branch  of  the  subject  seemed  to  be  of  most  impor¬ 
tance,  and  first  engaged  our  attention.  But  three  witnesses 
appeared  at  this  first  session,  to-wit :  Miss  Susan  Kane,  of  Chris¬ 
tian  county,  who  had  been  employed  as  an  attendant  in  the  hos¬ 
pital,  from  August,  1865,  to  January,  1866  ;  Mrs.  Graff,  of  Morgan 
county,  who  was  employed  as  directress  of  the  sewing  room,  from 
July,  1858,  to  October,  1861 ;  and  Mr.  E.  Searles,  of  Whiteside 
county,  who  was  a  patient  in  the  hospital  from  January  1,  1864 
to  December  30,  1865.  These  witnesses  were  intelligent,  their 
deportment  under  examination  respectable,  and  they  appeared  to 
the  committee  to  be  entirely  worthy  of  credit.  Miss  Kane  and  Mrs. 
Graff  had,  from  personal  observation  and  experience,  full  opportu¬ 
nity  to  know  the  general  treatment  of  patients,  especially  in  the 


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female  wards,  during  their  residence  there ;  and  Mr.  Searles  tes¬ 
tified  principally  concerning  his  own  treatment. 

The  testimony  of  these  witnesses  was  so  remarkable  in  its 
character,  as  to  excite  for  the  first  time,  in  the  minds  of  the  com¬ 
mittee,  serious  apprehensions  that  a  harsh,  if  not  inhumane  and 
brutal  policy  had  been  adopted  by  the  officers  and  attendants  in 
the  treatment  of  patients.  And  as  the  names  of  several  persons 
were  pointed  out  by  these  witnesses  as  important  witnesses,  but 
whose  residences,  in  several  cases,  were  unknown,  it  then  seemed 
our  plain  and  imperative  duty  to  advise  the  public  of  our  meet¬ 
ings,  and  request  that  all  who  knew  of  any  important  fact,  or  who 
knew  the  names  of  those  supposed  to  have  information  important 
to  the  investigation,  to  inform  the  committee,  and  appear  and  give 
their  evidence. 

A  circular  to  that  effect  was  published,  subpoenas  issued  for 
witnesses  whose  residences  were  known,  and  the  committee  ad¬ 
journed  on  the  16th  of  May,  to  meet  at  Jacksonville,  on  the  4th 
of  June. 

Determined  to  spare  neither  time  nor  labor  that  might  appear 
necessary  to  a  full  hearing  of  all  testimony  which  might  be  offered, 
or  which  could  be  honorably  procured  by  the  committee,  to 
establish  the  charges  of  abuse  from  time  to  time  communicated 
to  the  committee,  or  for  the  fullest  explanation  and  defense  of 
those  charges  by  the  officers  of  the  hospital,  we  have  found  it 
necessary  to  hold  several  meetings.  We  met  the  4th,  5th,  6th, 
7th,  8th  and  10th  of  June,  again  at  Jacksonville;  July  10th 
and  11th,  at  Chicago;  on  the  17th,  18th,  19th,  20th,  22d,  23d, 
24th,  25th  and  26th  of  July,  again  at  Jacksonville;  on  the  20th, 
21st  and  22d  of  August,  again  at  Chicago  ;  and  on  the  26th  and 
27th  of  September,  at  Springfield. 

The  committee  had  hoped  they  should  have  been  able  to  close 
this  investigation  at  their  meeting  in  September,  but  at  that 
meeting  an  affidavit  was  received  by  the  committee,  of  Miss  Julia 
A.  Wilson,  charging  the  superintendent  with  grave  improprieties 
to  her  while  visiting  her  sister  in  the  hospital,  in  July,  last.  The 
President  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  and  the  Superintendent, 
being  informed  of  the  charge  made  in  the  affidavit,  objected  to  its 
being  received  without  the  benefit  of  a  cross-examination  of  Miss 
Wilson;  and  after  members  of  the  committee  had  made  inquiry 
of  persons  acquainted  with  this  lady,  concerning  her  character, 


9 


the  committee  decided  to  take  her  testimony,  and  allow  the  cross- 
examination,  as  requested.  After  receiving  the  depositions  of 
several  non-resident  witnesses,  who  had  been  examined  on  writ¬ 
ten  interrogatories,  they  made  arrangements  for  taking  the  testi¬ 
mony  of  Miss  Wilson,  in  Buffalo,  and  adjourned,  to  meet  again 
at  such  time  and  place  as  the  chairman  should  designate. 

On  the  16th  and  17th  of  October,  Dr.  McFarland,  and  Mr. 
Dummer,  his  attorney,  and  the  chairman  of  the  committee,  took 
the  depositions  of  Miss  Wilson  and  her  mother,  Mrs.  Julia  A. 
Wilson,  and  J.  D.  H.  Chamberlain,  Esq.,  before  James  S.  Gibbs, 
Esq.,  in  the  city  of  Buffalo. 

After  the  taking  of  this  testimony,  it  was  agreed  between  the 
chairman  of  the  committee  and  the  counsel  of  Dr.  McFarland, 
that  the  examination  concerning  the  hospital  should  be  concluded 
at  Bloomington,  on  the  12th  of  November ;  and  the  committee 
met  at  that  time  and  place  for  that  purpose.  At  that  meeting, 
however,  an  application  was  made  by  the  President  of  the  Board 
of  Trustees,  for  a  postponement,  on  account  of  the  appearance  of 
a  malignant  disease  then  prevailing  at  the  hospital,  which  preven¬ 
ted  Dr.  McFarland  from  being  present,  and  also  the  unavoidable 
absence  of  his  counsel. 

The  committee  therefore  adjourned  until  the  29th  of  November, 
at  Jacksonville,  for  the  purpose  of  closing  the  investigation  of 
the  hospital,  and  also  to  complete  their  examination  of  the  institu¬ 
tions  for  the  education  of  the  deaf  and  dumb,  and  blind.  Before 
doing  so,  however,  they  visited  the  Normal  University,  and  ex¬ 
amined  the  property  belonging  to  the  State  at  Normal,  and  the 
financial  management  of  the  University. 

On  the  29th  of  November  the  committee  again  met  at  the  In¬ 
stitution  for  the  Deaf  and  Dumb,  at  Jacksonville,  and  after  hear¬ 
ing  the  balance  of  the  testimony  offered  by  Dr.  McFarland,  and 
completing  their  examination  into  the  “  financial  and  general  man¬ 
agement”  of  the  institutions  for  the  deaf  and  dumb,  and  blind, 
adjourned  on  the  3d  inst.,  sine  die. 

The  committee  believe  they  have  spent  no  more  time  than  was 
necessary  to  a  proper  understanding  of  the  important  subjects  un¬ 
der  examination ;  and  the  delay  in  submitting  to  you  a  report  has 
seemed  unavoidable. 

A  reference  to  some  of  the  legislation  of  the  State,  and  some 
historical  facts  connected  with  these  institutions,  mav  not  be  here 

/  w 

—2 


10 


improper,  as  tlieir  consideration  is  necessary  to  a  full  understand¬ 
ing  of  some  of  the  evidence  which  appears  in  the  proceedings  of 
the  committee. 

The  legislation  in  relation  to  the  hospital  for  the  insane,  and 
the  inquiries  directed  by  the  Legislature  to  be  made  of  its  man¬ 
agement,  and  in  the  order  named,  will  first  be  considered. 


HOSPITAL  FOR  THE  INSANE. 

LEGISLATION. 

In  January,  1817,  Miss  D.  L.  Dix  presented  a  memorial  to  the 
Legislature  containing  a  very  eloquent  and  powerful  argument  and 
appeal  to  establish  a  hospital  for  the  treatment  of  the  insane  of 
the  State  who  were  believed  to  be  curable ;  and,  no  doubt,  this 
memorial,  from  this  renowned  and  philanthropic  lady,  and  her 
noble  and  assiduous  labors,  had  a  very  proper  influence  upon  that 
body.  At  all  events,  on  the  1st  of  March  of  that  year  the  origi¬ 
nal  act  of  incorporation  was  passed.  It  appointed  nine  Trustees 
to  manage  its  affairs,  and  provided  for  the  appointment  by  the 
Trustees  of  a  Superintendent,  Assistant  Physician  and  Steward. 
The  Superintendent  was  required  to  be  a  skillful  physician,  and 
was  to  be  appointed  for  a  term  of  ten  years,  during  which  time 
his  salary  should  not  be  reduced,  and  should  only  be  subject  to 
removal  for  “  infidelity  to  the  trust  reposed  in  him,  or  incompe¬ 
tency  to  the  discharge  thereof.”  He  was  required  to  be  a  married 
man,  and,  with  his  family,  reside  in  the  institution.  It  required 
the  hospital  to  be  established  within  four  miles  of  Jacksonville, 
and  authorized  the  purchase  or  acceptance  by  grant  of  not  to  ex¬ 
ceed  300  acres  of  land,  and  which  land  should  have  upon  it  a 
“  never-failing  supply  of  water,”  and  be  “conveniently  situated  for 
necessary  supplies  of  fuel.”  For  the  purpose  of  securing  such 
land,  if  necesssary,  and  constructing  buildings,  and  meeting  such 
expenditures  as  might  be  incidental  to  the  erection  and  completion 
of  such  hospital  and  appurtenances,  a  tax  on  all  the  taxable  prop¬ 
erty  of  the  State  of  one-fifth  of  one  mill  on  the  dollar,  for  the  term 
of  three  years,  was  directed.  The  site  was  to  be  selected  in  three 
months  thereafter,  and  the  trustees  were  required  to  “so  construct 


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and  complete”  said  building  and  out-houses,  and  improvements, 
that  the  same  should  accommodate  250  patients  and  necessary  at¬ 
tendants,  and  the  whole  cost  of  so  doing  was  limited  to  sixty 
thousand  dollars. 

The  act  provided  that  insane  patients  from  the  several  comities 
of  the  State  should  be  in  proportion  to  the  population  of  the  same, 
but  that  each  county  should  be  entitled  to  send  at  least  one  pa¬ 
tient.  “  Indigent  persons”  and  “  paupers”  were  to  be  charged  for 
medical  attendance,  board  and  nursing,  the  actual  costs  attending 
the  same,  and  “  paying  patients”  such  sums  as  the  trustees  should 
prescribe.  As  no  provision  was  made  for  the  clothing  of  patients 
by  the  hospital,  such  clothing  was  to  be  provided  by  the  counties 
or  the  patients,  or  their  friends,  and  therefore,  under  the  eleventh 
section  of  this  act,  neither  “  paupers  ”  nor  “  indigent  persons  ” 
nor  “  paying  patients  ”  were  to  be  charges  upon  the  institution /  for 
the  two  former  classes  were  to  be  charged  the  “actual  costs  ”  of 
medical  attendance,  board  and  nursing,  and  the  latter  might  be 
even  charged  a  profit. 

The  county  commissioners’  court  were  authorized  to  send  in¬ 
sane  paupers ;  the  courts  of  the  State  those  charged  with  any 
capital  or  felonious  offense,  and  who  had  been  found  insane  by 
the  jury ;  and  the  circuit  courts  were  directed,  on  application  of 
any  person,  to  have  one  alleged  to  be  insane  committed  to  the 
hospital,  to  inquire  into  the  fact  of  insanity,  and  if  such  court 
should  be  satisfied  that  such  person  was,  by  reason  of  his  or  her 
insanity,  unsafe  to  be  at  large,  or  suffering  from  unkindness , 
cruelty ,  hardship  or  exposure ,  to  send  such  person  to  the  hospital. 

These  were  the  substantial  and  humane  provisions  of  this  law. 

X 

Protection  to  society  from  the  “  unsafe” — relief  from  “  unkind¬ 
ness,  cruelty,  hardship  and  exposure,”  whether  in  jails,  poor- 
houses,  or  private  families,  giving  “  precedence,”  however,  to  the 
“indigent  insane,”  and  “preference”  to  “recent  cases”  over  those 
of  a  “chronic  character,”  seems  to  have  been  the  leading  idea  of 
this  first  organized  and  earnest  effort  of  our  State  in  the  care  of  its 
insane. 

In  1849  (February  3d),  the  special  tax  provided  by  the  act  of 
1847,  above  referred  to,  was  continued  another  year,  and  on  Feb¬ 
ruary  15,  1851,  it  was  increased  from  one-fifth  to  one-third  of  a 
mill,  and  continued  indefinitely ;  and  the  trustees  were  authorized 
to  use  so  much  of  said  “  fund  for  the  insane,”  after  the  completion 


12 


of  the  building  provided  for  in  the  act  of  1847,  as  might  be  neces¬ 
sary  in  defraying  the  expenses  of  the  institution,  provided  that 
not  more  than  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  per  annum  should  be 
used  for  each  “  State”  patient ;  and  by  the  second  section  of  this 
act  of  1851,  the  “costs  and  charges”  of  keeping  insane  persons 
residing  in  this  State  was  directed  to  be  paid  out  of  this  “  fund  for 
the  insane.”  But  by  the  eighteenth  section  of  the  law  of  Febru¬ 
ary  14, 1855  (appropriation  act),  these  laws  authorizing  the  levy 
of  a  special  tax  were  repealed,  and  the  special  tax  levied  for  1854 
required  to  be  paid  into  the  treasury  to  the  credit  of  the  general 
revenue  fund;  and  by  the  second  section  of  the  law  of  February 
21,  1861  (appropriation  act),  the  trustees  were  authorized  and  di¬ 
rected  to  collect  from  such  patients  as  are  of  “  sufficient  ability,” 
the  just  charges  for  their  support,  and  report  the  names  to  the 
General  Assembly,  and  the  sums  so  collected. 

It  will  thus  be  seen  that  the  original  policy  of  making  the  hos¬ 
pital  a  self-supporting  institution,  by  requiring  the  trustees  to  col¬ 
lect  either  from  the  counties,  or  patients,  or  their  friends,  the  costs 
and  charges  for  their  care  and  treatment,  was  changed  by  the  law 
of  1851  and  before  the  hospital  was  opened,  and  “  all  insane  per¬ 
sons  residing  in  the  State  ”  were  entitled  to  receive  not  exceeding 
one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  per  annum  for  their  support,  out  of 
the  “insane  fund.”  This  law  continued  in  force  until  1855,  when 
so  much  of  it  as  related  to  the  special  tax  for  the  “  fund  for  the 
insane”  was  repealed;  and  finally,  in  February,  1861,  as  before 
stated,  the  original  policy,  so  far  as  “persons of  sufficient  ability” 
were  concerned,  was  re-enacted,  and  the  trustees  directed  to  col¬ 
lect  from  such  the  “just  charges”  for  their  support.  In  other 
words,  the  hospital,  from  its  opening,  in  1851,  to  February,  1861, 
was  free,  to  the  amount  of  $150  per  annum ;  and  since  then, 
those  able  to  pay  are  required  to  pay,  and  those  not  able,  in¬ 
cluding  paupers,  are  supported  free,  except  as  to  clothing  (unless 
the  limitation  of  $150  remains  in  force,  as  applicable  to  paupers 
and  indigent  insane),  which  by  the  act  of  1851  is  required  to  be  " 
furnished  for  paupers  by  their  counties. 

Several  other  important  changes  were  made  in  the  laws,  by  the 
acts  of  1851  and  1853,  in  respect  to  the  power  to  commit  to  the 
hospital.  The  fifth  section  of  the  act  of  1851  conferred  concur¬ 
rent  jurisdiction  upon  the  county  courts  to  hear  and  determine 
alleged  cases  of  insanity,  and  the  order  of  the  court,  or  judge,  or 


13 


a  copy  thereof  was  required  to  be  furnished  to  the  trustees,  and 

should  constitute  the  authority  to  receive  and  detain.  The  10th 

*/ 

section  of  this  act  has  been  the  subject  of  much  comment  and  dis¬ 
cussion,  both  in  and  out  of  the  Legislature.  It  provided  that 
married  women  and  infants,  who,  in  the  judgment  of  the  medical 
superintendent,  were  evidently  insane  or  distracted,  might  be 
received  and  detained  in  the  hospital  on  the  request  of  the  husband , 
or  the  woman ,  or  parent,  or  guardian ,  of  the  infants,  without  the 
evidence  of  insanity  or  distraction  required  in  other  cases. 

This  action  in  relation  to  married  women  and  infants  was  sub¬ 
stantially  re-enacted  February  12, 1853  ;  but  the  judicial  proceed¬ 
ings  required  before  committal  of  others  were  changed.  The 
county  courts  were  vested  with  exclusive  jurisdiction  to  try  cases 
of  insanity ;  and  before  any  person  could  be  committed  (married 
women  and  infants  excepted,  and  those  previously  legally  decided 
to  be  insane),  some  respectable  person  was  required  to  file  a  writ¬ 
ten  statement  with  the  county  court  or  judge  thereof,  in  vacation, 
setting  forth  that  the  person  was  insane,  and  that  it  was  for  his  or 
her  benefit  to  be  committed  to  the  hospital,  and  giving  the  list  of 
witnesses  by  whom  the  facts  could  be  proven.  It  therefore  be¬ 
came  the  duty  of  the  court  to  summon  a  jury  of  six,  one  of  whom 
should  be  a  physician,  to  try  the  question  of  insanity.  The  jury 
were,  in  case  they  found  the  person  insane,  to  return  a  prescribed 
form  of  verdict,  and  the  insane  person,  under  certain  regulations 
and  limitations,  was  to  be  committed  to  the  hospital. 

Neither  the  law  of  1845,  or  that  of  1847,  or  of  1851  or  1853, 
required  the  person  alleged  to  be  insane  to  be  present  in  court  during 
the  examination  ;  and,  prior  to  the  act  of  1847,  there  was  no  trial 
of  the  fact  of  insanity  provided,  except  a  person  had  property  or 
was  accused  of  crime.  The  medical  evidence  required  by  the 
court  (one  juror  required  to  be  a  physician),  as  well  as  the  testi¬ 
mony  of  other  witnesses,  were  under  these  various  laws  accepted 
in  lieu  of  the  presence  of  the  person  alleged  to  be  insane.  The 
court  or  jury  would,  however,  probably  have  had  the  right  to  have 
such  person  produced  before  finding  him  or  her  insane,  but  such 
presence  was  not  required  by  the  law. 

Conceiving,  probably,  that  persons  not  insane  might  be  improp¬ 
erly  committed  and  detained  in  the  hospital  under  these  laws,  and 
who  might  be  protected  from  such  illegal  committal  if  required  to 
be  personally  present  during  the  examination  of  their  cases,  and 


14 


that  married  women  and  infants  were  as  much  entitled  to  the  pro¬ 
tection  ot  the  law  in  respect  to  their  personal  rights  in  this  regard 
as  others,  the  Legislature,  on  the  16th  of  February,  1865,  again 
conferred  upon  the  circuit  judges  of  the  State  the  same  powers 
as  then  possessed  by  the  county  courts  in  this  respect,  and  declared 
that  no  resident  of  the  State  should  thereafter  be  admitted  into 
the  hospital  “ except  upon  the  order  of  a  court  or  judge,  or  upon 
the  production  of  a  warrant  issued  under  the  provisions  of  this 
act  of  1853;”  and,  also,  “that  no^ trial  should  be  had  of  the 
question  of  sanity  before  any  judge  or  court  without  the  presence 
or  in  the  absence  of  the  person  alleged  to  be  insane.” 

The  subject  of  illegal  committals  and  detentions  in  the  hospital 
was  again  before  the  last  Legislature  ;  and,  by  a  most  stringent  law, 
of  March  5, 1867,  it  was  declared,  that  any  superintendent,  medical 
director,  agent  or  other  person,  of  any  hospital  or  asylum  for 
insane  or  distracted  persons  in  this  State,  who  should  receive, 
keep,  or  detain  in  any  such  asylum  or  hospital  any  person  against 
his  or  her  wishes,  without  the  record  or  proper  certificate  of  the 
trial  of  such  person  alleged  to  be  insane,  as  required  by  the  act 
of  1865,  should  be  deemed  guilty  of  a  high  misdemeanor,  and  on 
conviction  be  punished  by  a  fine  of  not  less  than  $500,  nor  more 
than  $1000,  and  imprisoned  not  less  than  three  months,  nor 
more  than  one  year,  or  both,  in  the  discretion  of  the  court  before 
whom  the  conviction  should  be  had. 

This  law  of  March  5,  1867,  further  provided  that  any  person 
then  confined  in  any  insane  hospital  or  asylum,  and  all  persons 
confined  in  the  hospital  for  the  insane,  at  Jacksonville,  who  had 
not  been  tried  and  found  insane  or  distracted  by  the  verdict  of  a 

4  ** 

jury,  as  provided  in  and  contemplated  by  the  act  of  1865,  should 
be  permitted  to  have  such  trial ;  that  all  “  such  persons  ”  should 
be  informed  by  the  trustees  “in  their  discretion”  of  the  provi¬ 
sions  of  both  these  acts,  and  on  their  request  such  persons  should 
be  entitled  to  such  trial  within  a  reasonable  time  thereafter,  pro¬ 
vided  that  trial  might  be  had  in  the  county  where  such  insane 
person  resided  previous  to  such  detention,  in  case  such  person  or 
his  or  her  friends  should  within  thirty  days  after  such  demand  for 
a  trial  provide  for  the  transportation  of  such  person  to  said  county  ; 
and  in  case  no  such  provision  for  transportation  should  be  made? 
then  such  person  should  be  tried  in  the  county  where  he  or  she 
was  then  detained.  The  fourth  section  also  provided  for  the  dis- 


15 


charge  of  all  suclr  persons  who  had  not  been  tried  as  provided  by 
the  act  of  1865,  or  who  should  not  be  so  tried  within  two  months 
from  the  passage  of  the  act  of  1867. 

A  question  arose  under  this  last  law  as  to  whether,  in  cases 
where  the  patient  was  so  palpably  and  obviously  insane  as  not  to 
be  capable  of  knowing  whether  they  wanted  a  trial  or  not,  the 
trustees  had  any  discretion  in  the  premises ;  and  the  supreme 
court,  on  a  case  instituted,  decided,  that,  irrespective  of  their 
mental  condition,  all  patients  in  hospital  March  7, 1867,  who  had 
not  been  tried  as  provided  by  the  act  of  1865,  must  be  tried  or 
discharged,  and  that  the  trustees  had  no  discretion,  but  were 
bound  to  provide  them  a  trial. 

By  the  act  of  February  13,  1857,  the  number  of  trustees  is 
reduced  to  six ,  the  office  of  steward  abolished,  and  the  duties  of 
that  office  to  be  discharged  by  clerks  appointed  by  the  trustees  on 
the  recommendation  of  superintendent ;  insane  paupers  required 
to  be  furnished  with  clothing  by  their  counties ;  form  of  complaint 
and  verdict  of  insanity  prescribed  ;  trustees  authorized  to  dis¬ 
charge  any  patient  when,  in  their  judgment,  it  is  necessary  ;  in¬ 
curable  and  harmless  cases  to  be  discharged,  to  make  room,  when 
necessary,  for  recent  cases ;  and  non-resident  patients  who  were 
probably  curable,  authorized  to  be  received ;  and  the  compensa¬ 
tion  of  trustees  to  be  their  personal  and  traveling  expenses  going 
to  and  returning  from  the  meetings  of  the  board. 

A  careful  examination  of  these  various  laws,  will  show: 

1st.  That  a  full  and  fair  trial  by  a  court  and  jury  is  now  se¬ 
cured  to  every  person  alleged  to  be  insane,  and  he  or  she  not  only 
‘permitted  but  required  to  be  personally  present  during  said  trial, 
and  a  certified  copy  of  the  verdict  of  the  jury  required  before 
admission  to  hospital. 

2d.  Representation  by  counties  according  to  population,  each 
county,  however,  to  be  entitled  to  at  least  one  patient;  and, 
among  different  applications  from  the  same  county,  the  “  paupers” 
and  “  indigent  insane  ”  to  have  preference  over  “paying  patients ;” 
and  the  “recent  cases,”  or  those  deemed  curable,  over  “chronic 
cases,”  or  those  deemed  doubtful  or  incurable. 

3d.  Counties  to  pay  expenses  of  pauper  patients  to  hospital ; 
furnish  certain  articles  of  clothing  for  them  in  advance,  and  pro¬ 
vide  suitable  clothing  while  there,  and  remove  them  when  required 
by  the  trustees. 


16 


4th.  Patients  of  “sufficient  ability  to  pay  the  just  charges  of 
their  support,'’  including,  undoubtedly,  medical  and  other  atten¬ 
dance. 

5th.  Plenary  powers  conferred  on  trustees  and  superintendent 
to  equalize  representation,  enforce  payment,  and  compel  obedi¬ 
ence  to  all  laws  and  regulations  of  the  institution. 

6th.  The  institution  a  hospital  for  treatment  of  cases  probably 
curable,  instead  of  an  asylum  for  helpless  or  incurable — with  this 
limitation,  that  each  county  only  is  entitled  to  one  patient,  whether 
incurable  or  not. 

7th.  Admission  of  non-resident  curable  cases  when  there  is 
vacant  room. 


FINANCIAL  AND  SANITARY  MANAGEMENT. 


The  condition  of  the  hospital,  including  its  costs,  is  perhaps 
necessary  to  be  understood  in  determining  its  “  financial  and  sani¬ 
tary  management.” 

It  appears  from  an  examination  of  various  reports  of  the  trus¬ 
tees  and  superintendent,  and  books  and  records  of  the  institution, 
that  there  has  been  expended  by  the  State,  for  lands  and  buildings 
for  the  hospital,  the  following  sums : 


In  1847-48 
1849-50 
1851-52 
1853-54 
1857-58 
1859-60 
1861-62 
1865-66 


$13,121  54 
36,815  93 
44,014  28 
36,801  37 
71,055  33 
79,500  00 
26,110  67 
76,814  00 


$383,233  12 

Of  this  amount  $3,631  42  was  expended,  in  1847-48,  for  land ; 
and  $10,000  00,  in  1861-62,  for  water-works ;  and  $814,  in  1865- 
66,  for  land  ;  making  $14,445  42  for  land  and  water-works,  and 
leaving  $368,787  70  as  expense  of  buildings.  To  this  sum 
should  be  added,  as  appropriated  February  28,  1867,  $16,400 — 
for  completing  and  furnishing  the  east  wing,  re-painting,  finishing 
chapel,  and  enlargement  of  sewers  and  cess-pools — making  the 
sum  total  for  lands  and  buildings  $399,633  12. 

It  further  appears  that  the  following  sums  have  been  appro¬ 
priated  and  expended  for  its  support : 


17 


In  1851-2  .  $25,165  64 

1853-4  .  62,329  36 

1855-6  .  65,000  00 

1857-8  .  72,000  00 

1859-60  .  80,000  00 

1861-2  . 88,750  00 

1863-4  .  90,000  00 

1865-6  .  55,00000 


$538,243  93 

To  which  should  be  added — appropriated  February  25,  1867,  to 
meet  deficiency  for  current  expenses  for  year  1866 .  63,206  53 


Making  the  total  amount  of  current  expenses  to  Dec.  1,  1866.  .$601,450  46 

The  general  account  will  then  stand : 

Lands  and  building .  , .  $399,633  12 

Current  expenses  to  1S67 .  601,450  46 


$1,001,083  58 

It  also  appears  that  the  following  number  of  patients  have  been 
admitted  prior  to  July  1,  1867 : 

Number  admitted  from  Nov.  3,  1851,  to  Dec.  1,  1864 . 2,135 

Number  admitted  from  Dec.  1,  1864,  to  Dec.  1,  1866 .  .  446 

-  2,581 

Number  discharged  ( recovered )  prior  to  Dec.  1,  1866 . 1,054 

Number  discharged  ( improved )  .  229 

Number  discharged  {unimproved) .  650 

Number  discharged  (by  friends) .  48 

Number  discharged  (eloped) .  35 

Died .  246 

-  2,263 

Leaving  in  hospital  Dec.  1,  1866  .  318 

Admitted  from  Dec.  1,  1866,  to  Feb  28,  1867  . .  56 

Admitted  from  Feb.  28,  1867,  to  April  3,  1867  .  23 

Admitted  from  April  3,  1867,  to  July  25,  1867  .  Ill 

- 190 

508 

Vacancies  from  Dec.  1,  1866,  to  Feb.  28,  1867  .  40 

Vacancies  from  Feb.  28,  1867,  to  April  3,  1867  . 29 

Vacancies  from  April  3,  1867,  to  July  25,  1867  .  103 

- 172 

In  hospital  July  25,  1867 .  336 

As  2,581  were  admitted  from  Nov.  3,  1851  (at  opening  of  hos¬ 
pital)  to  Dec.  1,  1866,  and  the  total  expenditures  for  lands,  build¬ 
ings  and  current  expenditures  to  Dec.  1,  1866,  was  $1,001,083  58, 

it  will  be  seen  that  it  is  equivalent  to  about  $388  per  patient. 
3— 


IS 


And  $601,450  46  being  the  amount  of  current  expenses  to  same 
date,  it  will  also  be  seen  that  such  expenses  are  equal  to  about 
$233  per  patient. 

From  the  report  of  the  superintendent,  of  Dec.  1,  lb64,  it 
appears  that  there  were  then  in  hospital  301 ;  and,  from  his  report 
of  Dec.  1, 1866,  there  were  at  that  time  in  hospital  318. 

The  treasurer’s  report  for  Dec.  1,  1866,  shows  that  there  was 
expended  on  account  of  current  expenses,  for  1865  and  1866, 
$187,921  30,  or  $93,960  65  per  annum.  Assuming  the  average 
attendance  during  those  two  years  to  be  310  patients,  the  gross 
expense  'per  capita  was  about  $303.  But  it  is  also  stated  in  said 
treasurer’s  report  that  $52,790  31  was  received  by  the  hospital 
for  clothing  and  incidental  expenses  of  patients  during  said  time. 
This  latter  item  seems  to  be  a  mistake,  as  the  amount  received  for 
board  is  only  $31,054  01,  and  for  clothing  $21,736  30 — making 
$52,790  31  on  both  accounts.  And  it  also  appears  from  said 
report  of  the  treasurer,  that  said  expenses  includes  $8,218  62,  as 
expenses  of  “farm  account;”  and  that  $9,251  57  was  received 
during  the  same  time,  on  account  of  sales  made  of  surplus  hay, 
corn,  hogs,  and  cattle  from  the  farm  ;  therefore  the  $9,251  57 
should  be  added  to  the  above  $52,790  31 — making  $62,047  88, 
which,  deducted  from  the  above  $187,921  30,  leaves  $125,873  42, 
as  the  amount  actually  expended  by  the  State  for  current  expenses 
in  the  support  of  these  patients — which  is  equal  to  $62,936  71 
per  annum,  or  about  $203  per  patient  per  annum,  by  the  State. 

On  the  28th  of  February  last  there  were  seventy  officers  and 
employes  (including  four  patients)  in  the  service  of  the  hospital, 
at  a  monthly  compensation  of  $2,039  14  ;  and  the  amount  paid 
on  account  of  salaries,  for  quarter  ending  March  3,  1867,  was 


$5,301  84.  These  persons  are  : 

1  Superintendent,  whose  monthly  salary  is . $208  33 

1  Assistant  physician,  whose  monthly  salary  is .  70  00 

1  Assistant  physician,  whose  monthly  salary  is . 50  00 

1  Chaplain . 25  00 

1  Matron .  20  00 

1  Clerk .  58  33 

1  Supervisor .  40  00 

2  Supervisoresses,  each .  20  00 

1  Seamstress .  20  00 

1  Engineer .  .  .  58  33 

1  Assistant  engineer  . . .  . .  58  83 

1  Fireman . . .  30  00 


19 


10  Male  attendants,  each  . . 

14  Female  attendants,  each 

1  Barber . 

1  Cook  . 

1  Assistant  cook . . 

1  Baker . 

1  Watchman . 

1  Porter . 

1  Farmer . 

1  Gardener . 


$30  00 
15  00 
35  00 
45  00 
30  00 
40  00 
35  00 
35  00 
58  33 
35  00 


25  Employes  of  various  kinds,  with  various  salaries — from  $10  00  to  $35  00  per 
month. 


These  officers  and  employes  reside  at  the  hospital,  and  the 
salaries  are  exclusive  of  their  board,  washing,  etc.  The  salaries 
and  wages  do  not  appear  unreasonable  for  the  grade  of  services, 
although,  in  some  cases,  they  are  higher  than  are  paid  in  other 
similar  institutions.  The  aggregate  salaries  and  wages,  according 
to  number  of  patients,  do  not  materially  differ  from  amounts  paid 
in  several  other  institutions,  whose  reports  the  committee  have 
examined ;  and  the  committee  are  satisfied  from  the  testimony, 
that  there  cannot  at  present  be  any  material  reduction  of  salaries 
or  wages. 

The  following  is  a  statement  of  amounts  paid  for  the  same 
services,  and  included  in  current  expenses,  for  the  past  ten  years  : 


Years. 

Salaries. 

Wages. 

Total. 

Per  Annum. 

1857  and  1858 . 

$6,100  00 

$16,471  67 

$22,571  62 

$11,285  81 

1859  and  I860 . 

5,937  59 

18,362  97 

24,300  47 

12,150  23 

1861  and  1862 . . 

6,153  84 

20,165  29 

26,319  13 

13,159  56 

1863  and  1864 . 

1865  and  1866 . 

8,815  60 

28,384  27 

32,199  87 
43,983  14 

18,099  98 
21,996  57 

LANDS. 

The  “  lands  and  buildings  and  water- works  ”  for  which  the 
above  expenditure  of  $399,633  12  has  been  made,  consists  of  a 
farm,  lying  adjoining  the  city  of  Jacksonville  on  the  south,  of  160 
acres  of  land — well  fenced,  and  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation  ; 

and  about - acres  occupied  by  a  reservoir.  The  lawn,  garden, 

and  land  occupied  by  the  various  buildings,  contain  about  forty 
acres;  about  fifty  acres  are  in  crops,  and  about  seventy  acres  to 
tame  grass.  Almost  everything  has  been  done  to  make  it  in 
every  sense  a  model  farm.  Its  natural  beauty,  its  admirable  and 


20 


convenient  locality,  and  the  contributions  which  science  and  good 
husbandry  have  made,  render  it  altogether  one  of  the  most  pro¬ 
ductive  and  valuable  farms  in  the  State. 

The  superintendent,  in  his  report,  says  that  this  farm  “  is,  as 
heretofore,  a  source  of  pleasure  and  unquestionable  profit.  That 
it  is  a  source  of  ‘  pleasure  ’  to  many — that  the  ‘  household  supplies 
drawn  from  it,  in  all  their  freshness  and  convenience,’  ”  are  desira¬ 
ble  ;  in  fact  that  the  farm,  or  some  portion  of  it  is  really  a  neces¬ 
sity,  the  committee  do  not  doubt ;  but  it  does  not  appear,  from 
the  treasurer’s  report,  quite  so  clearly  that  there  is  in  this  farm  a 
source  of  pecuniary  profit  to  the  State. 

As  the  farm  seems  to  be  well  managed,  and  no  extravagant 
expenditures  are  shown  in  its  expense  account,  and  a  great  por¬ 
tion  of  its  products  are  needful  to  supply  the  tables  of  the  hos¬ 
pital,  it  is  not  necessary  to  enter  into  a  close  calculation  of  its 
pecuniary  profit  or  loss  to  justify  the  investment.  The  commit¬ 
tee  are  inclined  to  think,  however,  that  the  north  sixty  or  eighty 
acres  might  be  now  very  advantageously  sold,  in  small  lots,  at 
the  present  value,  without  interfering  with  any  necessity  or  con¬ 
venience  of  the  patients;  and  the  proceeds  of  such  sale  either 
used  in  improvements  upon  the  balance,  or  re-invested  in  other 
cheaper  lands,  near  or  adjoining  the  hospital  farm.  v 

BUILDINGS. 

The  buildings,  costing  as  heretofore  stated,  $601,450  46,  con¬ 
sist  of  the  hospital,  and  other  buildings  necessary  for  its  use — 
including  a  barn  and  outbuildings  upon  the  farm.  The  hospital, 
as  now  completed,  with  a  front  of  five  hundred'  feet,  is  of  brick, 
and  consists  of  nine  sections  or  sub-divisions.  The  centre  or 
main  building  is  100  feet  front,  by  fifty  feet  deep,  with  a  base¬ 
ment  of  eight  feet ;  and  three  principal  stories  of-  eleven  feet  each, 
and  an  attic  of  eight  feet.  This  part  of  the  hospital  is  occupied 
for  offices,  and  domestic  and  household  purposes.  Joined  to  it 
are  two  wings  on  the  east,  known  as  the  east  and  new  east  wfings  ; 
and  two  wings  on  the  west,  known  as  the  west  and  new  west 
wings,  but  now  forming,  in  fact,  but  two  wings — the  east  and 
west  wings.  Each  of  these  wings,  as  last  mentioned ,  is  composed 
of  two  lateral  or  longitudinal  sections,  and  two  transverse  sections. 
Each  of  the  first  lateral  sections  has  seventy-three  feet  front,  and 
is  thirty-six  feet  deep  ;  and  each  of  the  first  transverse  sections 


21 


has  a  front  of  twenty-eight  feet,  and  is  100  feet  deep ;  and  each 
of  the  second  lateral  sections  is  fifty-seven  feet  front,  and  thirty- 
six  feet  deep  ;  and  each  of  the  second  transverse  sections  is  forty- 
three  feet  front,  and  100  feet  deep.  The  transverse  sections  cor¬ 
respond  in  height  with  the  lateral  sections — except,  in  the  former, 
there  are  attics,  used  as  dormitory  wards  ;  and  the  lateral  sections 
are  three  stories  above  the  basement.  For  convenience,  as  well 
as  architectural  appearance,  the  first  lateral  sections  fall  back 
about  thirty  feet  from  the  front  line  of  the  main  building  ;  and 
the  second  lateral  sections  about  twenty  feet  from  the  first.  The 
front  line  of  the  first  transverse  section  of  each  wing,  falls  back 
about  thirty  feet  from  the  front  line  of  the  main  building;  and 
the  front  line  of  the  second  or  last  transverse  section  of  each  wing, 
falls  back  about  twenty  feet  from  the  front  line  of  the  main  build¬ 
ing.  The  basement  and  three  principal  stories  throughout  the 
building,  are  of  corresponding  height.  Each  floor  or  story  of  each 
wing,  as  originally  constructed,  and  as  first  above  described,  is 
occupied  as  one  ward.  Therefore  there  are  sixteen  full  or  regular 
wards,  and  four  dormitory  wards.  Through  the  centre  of  these 
wards  there  are  halls,  100  feet  long  and  twelve  to  fourteen  feet 
wide.  On  each  side  of  these  halls  are  sleeping  rooms.  In  the 
new  wings  these  rooms  are  fourteen  by  ten  feet,  and  in  the  old 
wings  twelve  by  twelve  feet.  Opening  out  of  these  wards  are, 
also,  convenient  reception  and  dining  rooms.  In  each  ward  there 
are  also  a  water-closet  and  bath-room.  In  July  last  the  average 
number  in  each  of  the  twelve  wards  then  occupied  was  twenty- 
eight — the  four  wards  in  the  new  east  wing  were  then  being  com¬ 
pleted,  and  not  occupied.  The  west  wings,  except  the  basements, 
were  occupied  by  female,  and  the  east  wing  and  basements  by 
male  patients.  The  three  basement  wards,  being  known  as  the 
first,  fifth,  and  new  fifth,  in  July  contained  seventy-five  male 
patients.  There  were  twenty-nine  in  the  old  fifth,  and  thirty  in 
the  new  fifth  ;  and  it  seemed  to  the  committee  that  these  wards 
should  be  either  abandoned  as  wards,  or  so  re-constructed  as  to 
afford  more  light,  and  better  ventilation.  These  were  occupied 
by  the  worst  patients,  who  seemed  to  be  necessarily  suffering  for 
the  want  of  sufficient  light,  and  pure  air. 

The  want  of  proper  provision  for  heating  and  ventilating  these 
old  wings,  and  especially  these  basement  wards,  is  on  account  of 
the  bad  construction  of  the  flues  in  the  brick  walls ;  and  the  foul 


22 


air  flues  in  that  connection  appear  but  little  better  than  none  ;  aud 
the  remedy  for  which  is  in  constructing  more  and  larger  flues,  for 
the  admission  of  fresh  and  the  discharge  of  foul  air. 

The  grounds  in  front  of  the  hospital  descend  to  the  north,  and 
several  acres  are  tastefully  laid  out  in  flower-beds  and  lawn ;  and 
a  highly  cultivated  and  very  productive  vegetable  garden  and 
grapery  lie  in  the  rear. 

The  committee  spent  nine  days,  in  July  last,  in  the  hospital,  in 
taking  testimony,  and  inspecting  the  buildings  and  premises,  and 
they  take  great  pleasure  in  saying  that,  so  far  as  they  were  able  to 
observe,  the  sanitary  condition  of  the  hospital  was,  with  the  ex¬ 
ception  above  named,  all  that  could  be  desired.  The  patients 
appeared  to  be  well  provided  with  plenty  of  plain  and  good  food ; 
they  were  comfortably  and  neatly  clad  ;  the  machinery  and  appa¬ 
ratus  for  cooking,  washing  and  heating,  and  ventilating  the  build¬ 
ing,  appeared  admirably  adapted  to  the  purposes  intended ;  and 
the  building  throughout  seemed  a  model  of  cleanliness.  In  the 
thorough  inspection  which  the  committee  endeavored  to  make, 
they  were  accompanied  by  Professors  Patterson,  of  Batavia,  and 
Johnson,  of  Chicago,  who  were  summoned  by  the  committee  to 
assist  them  in  the  personal  examination  of  the  patients,  which 
will  be  mentioned  hereafter.  The  testimony  of  these  gentlemen, 
on  this  and  other  subjects,  will  be  found  in  the  journal  of  the 
committee. 

In  passing  through  the  various  departments  of  the  hospital, 
one  of  the  most  noticeable  things  which  attracts  the  attention  of 
the  observer,  is  the  admirable  system  there  adopted  for  warming 
and  ventilating  the  entire  edifice.  After  various  changes,  which 
time  and  experience  have  shown  necessary  to  be  made  on  this 
important  subject,  the  present  system  of  forced  mutilation  and 
warming  by  steam — and  as  it  seems,  in  perfection — is  in  ope¬ 
ration. 

Immediately  in  the  rear  of  the  hospital,  but  in  their  uses  form¬ 
ing  a  part  of  it,  are  suitable  buildings  of  brick,  two  stories  high, 
containing  a  kitchen,  bakery,  wash,  ironing,  drying,  boiler,  and 
engine  rooms,  and  sitting,  dining  and  sleeping  rooms  for  em¬ 
ployes  ;  and  in  one  of  the  wings  is  a  chapel,  now  being  completed 
under  the  appropriations  last  made. 

From  one  of  these  rear  buildings,  and  connected  there  with 
five  steam  boilers,  each  twenty-four  feet  long  and  forty-four  inches 


‘23 


in  diameter,  there  runs  a  large  steam  pipe  of  wrought  iron  through 
a  subterranean  channel  of  brick  work,  five  feet  in  diameter,  to  the 
center  of  the  main  edifice,  and  there,  dividing  at  right  angles, 
passes  each  way  through  the  cellars,  and  again  branching  to  sup¬ 
ply  the  transverse  wings  at  the  extreme  portions.  Connected 
with  these  main  pipes  are  smaller  pipes,  one  inch  in  diameter, 
which  enter  into  two  rows  of  hot-air  chambers.  These  hot-air 
chambers,  made  of  wood  and  lined  with  zinc,  have  a  direct  com¬ 
munication  at  the  bottom  with  the  fresh  air  outside  the  building, 
and  which  is  admitted  through  windows  in  the  cellar  walls,  and  at 
the  top  discharged  into  flues  which  .rise  into  the  various  wards 
occupied  by  patients.  Connected  with  these  pipes  in  these  hot¬ 
air  chambers,  is  a  circuit  of  pipes,  which  All  the  chamber,  heating 
the  air  within  it  to  a  high  temperature.  The  fresh,  cold  air  on 
entering  these  chambers  is  heated,  and  rising  with  a  strong  cur¬ 
rent  through  the  flues,  is  distributed  through  registers,  as  required. 
The  surplus  steam  and  water  of  condensation,  in  passing  back 
toward  the  boilers  in  another  set  of  cast  iron  pipes,  is  made  to 
ascend  to  the  center  building  of  the  hospital,  and  from  there  dis¬ 
tributed,  in  coils  of  pipes,  to  the  halls,  dining  rooms,  parlors  and 
offices;  and  having  performed  its  office  there,  and  being-  con- 
densed  to  water  by  its  use,  is*conveyed  back  to  the  building  where 
it  was  generated,  and  by  a  steam  pump  thrown  into  the  boilers, 
to  be  again  sent  on  its  endless  circuit. 

In  addition  to  the  ordinary  means  of  ventilation,  there  is  placed 
at  the  mouth  of  the  large  subterranean  channel  before-mentioned, 
a  circular  fan,  fourteen  feet  in  diameter,  and  driven  by  a  steam 
engine.  When  in  motion,  this  immense  fan  gathers  up  fresh  air, 
and  forces  it  with  such  rapidity  along  the  pipes  through  this  sub¬ 
terranean  channel  and  up  the  flues  in  the  building,  that  in  a  very 
short  time  every  particle  of  foul  or  hot  air  can  be  displaced  by 
this  current  of  fresh  air.  A  special  means  of  very  thoroughly 
ventilating  the  privies  and  water  closets  has  been  produced  by 
connecting  them,  a  few  feet  above  the  outlet  at  the  bottom,  by  a 
subterranean  channel  of  brick  work,  with  the  chimney  stack,  stand¬ 
ing  at  the  end  of  the  building  which  contains  the  steam  boilers. 
This  chimney  stack  is  115  feet  high,  and  in  it  is  a  cast  iron  smoke 
flue,  three  feet  in  diameter ;  and  between  this  iron  flue  and  the 
brick  work  which  surrounds  it,  is  a  space  one  foot  in  the  clear, 
and  connected  with  the  subterranean  channel  last  mentioned  ;  and 


I 


24 


thus  an  active,  upward  current  of  air  is  produced  by  the  heating 
of  this  air  in  this  foul  air  flue  in  the  chimney  stack,  and  not  only 
the  foul  gases  of  the  vaults  escape,  but  a  downward  current  of  air 
from  the  privy  rooms  is  produced  when  the  seats  are  opened. 

When  it  is  considered  how  important  a  proper  system  of  heat¬ 
ing  and  ventilation  is,  in  a  large  hospital  like  ours,  both  to  the 
health  and  comfort  of  the  patients,  the  people  of  the  State,  instead 
of  regretting,  may  well  congratulate  themselves  that  their  liberal 
and  generous  appropriations  have  been  made  to  supply  every 
needed  physical  comfort  to  these  patients.  And  the  only  object 
the  committee  had  of  specially  referring  to  this  subject  in  this 
report,  was  to  show  that  almost  every  requisition  for  money  to 
extend  the  capacity  and  comfort  and  usefulness  of  this  hospital, 
has  been  promptly  met.  While  this  is  true,  however,  there  are  a 
few  other  changes  and  expenditures,  which  it  seems  to  the  com¬ 
mittee  are  of  pressing  and  vital  importance. 

These  rear  buildings,  where  almost  all  of  the  fire  in  the  institu¬ 
tion  is  used,  are  connected  with  the  main  building  of  the  hospital 
by  an  “  arcade,”  or  passage  way  of  wood,  two  stories  high.  It  is 
of  lattice  work,  and  answers  for  no  other  purpose  than  a  covered 
passage  between  these  buildings,  unless  it  should  unfortunately  prove 
to  be  a  magazine  to  fire  the  whole  buildings.  So  eminent  did  the 
danger  from  this  combustible  structure,  in  case  of  fire,  appear, 
that  the  committee  immediately  called  the  attention  of  the  trustees 
to  the  subject,  and  advised  its  immediate  removal.  In  view  of 
what  might  otherwise  appear  an  apparent  neglect,  it  is  but  proper 
to  state  that  the  trustees  and  superintendent  have  called  the 
attention  of  the  Legislature  to  the  subject,  and  asked  for  an  appro¬ 
priation  to  replace  this  “  contrivance”  with  a  substantial  brick 
structure,  but  for  some  unknown  reason,  the  appropriation  has  not 
been  made.  The  committee  also  understand  that  the  trustees 
intend  to  remove  it  at  an  early  day. 

Another  subject  intimately  connected  with  that  of  fire  is  that 
of  water  ;  and  although  neither  of  them,  in  the  relation  here 
mentioned,  may  come  strictly  under  “  financial  and  sanitary  man¬ 
agement”  of  the  institution,  yet  their  importance  may  justify  the 
reference  which  is  here  solely  made  for  the  purpose  of  calling 
your  attention  to  what  the  committee  think  you  may  regard  an 
appropriate  subject  of  executive  recommendation. 


25 


There  seems  to  have  almost  always  been  more  or  less  difficulty 
of  obtaining  a  sufficient  supply  of  water  for  the  hospital.  Indeed, 
it  would  seem  that,  before  the  location  of  the  hospital,  such  diffi¬ 
culty  was  apprehended  ;•  for,  as  has  heretofore  been  shown  in  this 
report,  the  trustees  were  required,  before  accepting  any  grant  of 
land  as  a  site  for  a  hospital,  to  see  to  it  that  said  land  should 
“have  a  never-failing  supply  of  water  on  the  premises.”  The 
trustees,  in  their  report  of  December,  1860,  very  justly  say  that 
the  importance  of  this  instruction  seems  to  have  been  overlooked  • 
that  the  hospital  grounds  have  no  supply  of  water,  except  from 
cisterns  and  wells ;  that  during  the  (then)  past  dry  season,  and  at 
other  times,  a  great  portion  of  the  water  used  has  been  hauled 
from  a  distance;  and  that  in  consequence  of  such  scarcity,  “less 
water  has  been  used  for  bathing  and  other  purposes  than  the  health 
of  the  patients  required.”  To  remedy  this  difficulty,  Mr- 
Chesbrough,  an  eminent  hydraulic  engineer,  was  consulted,  who 
estimated  that  at  an  expense  of  ten  thousand  dollars  a  reservoir 
could  be  excavated  on  the  bluff,  or  north  bank  of  the  Mauvaisterre 
creek,  and  about  one-third  of  a  mile  from  the  hospital — with  a  top 
water  of  level  62  feet  above  the  bed  of  the  creek,  circular  in  form, 
201  feet  in  diameter  at  top  water  line,  152  feet  at  the  bottom,  with 
bank  ten  feet  wide  and  two  feet  above  top  water  line,  and  side 
slopes  two  feet  horizontal  to  one  foot  perpendicular — giving  a 
depth  of  twelve  and  a  half  feet  of  water,  and  with  a  capacity  of 
2,500,000  gallons  of  water  ;  and  the  water  to  be  raised  from  the 
creek  into  the  reservoir  by  a  steam  engine  and  pumps,  and  con¬ 
veyed  by  pipes  into  a  large  cistern,  containing  a  week’s  supply,  at 
the  hospital.  This  reservoir,  it  was  supposed,  would  hold  a  five 
months’  supply,  and  thus  afford  a  protection  against  droughts. 
The  appropriation  was  promptly  made — the  work  completed  and 
put  in  operation  about  February  1,  1862.  Since  that  time,  until 
the  present  season,  there  has  been  no  serious  inconvenience  from 
a  want  of  a  sufficient  supply  of  water,  although  the  loss  by 
“  seepage”  through  the  bed  of  the  reservoir  has  been  greater  than 
was  expected. 

During  a  part  of  the  present  season  the  supply  of  water  has 
been  cut  short,  and  for  the  past  two  months  most  of  the  water 
used  at  the  hospital  has  been  drawn  by  teams  from  wells  and  cis¬ 
terns  in  the  vicinity,  and  even  in  that  way  but  a  scanty  supply 
could  be  procured.  The  drought  the  present  season  has  been  the 
—4 


26 


principal  cause  of  this,  although  the  reservoir  is  out  of  repair. 
The  result  of  this  state  of  things  has  been  an  increase  of  sickness 
among  the  patients.  An  epidemic  among  them,  and  a  panic 
among  the  attendants,  were  very  eminent  during  a  part  of  last 
month.  The  crisis  seems  now  to  have  passed,  for  the  late  rains 
have  given  some  relief.  Still,  serious  embarrassments  for  the 
want  of  sufficient  water  still  continues  ;  and  from  all  the  informa¬ 
tion  the  committee  can  obtain,  it  is  not  improbable  that  additional 
measures  will  have  to  be  adopted  to  secure  a  permanent  supply. 
A  survey  has  recently  been  made,  under  the  direction  of  the  citi¬ 
zens  of  the  city  of  Jacksonville,  with  reference  to  constructing  a 
large  reservoir  near  the  hospital  reservoir,  and  it  is  supposed  a 
permanent  supply  of  water  can  be  obtained  from  Mauvaisterre 
creek.  If  this  plan  should  be  successful,  the  hospital  may  be  sup¬ 
plied  in  this  manner. 

The  fearful  and  positively  alarming  condition  of  things  at  the 
hospital  in  case  of  lire,  and  no  adequate  supply  of  water  and 
apparatus  to  extinguish  it,  would  be  too  appalling  to  admit  of 
description.  A  hospital  in  flames  containing  hundreds  of  insane 
and  distracted  patients,  in  their  various  wards,  and  perhaps  in 
their  beds,  at  the  mercy  of  this  remorseless  element,  and  no  effect¬ 
ive  instrumentality  to  protect  or  save  them,  would  present  a  scene 
of  horror  which  few  eyes  ever  beheld.  And  yet  the  danger  of 
just  such  a  frightful  calamity  has  existed  during  a  part  of  the 
present  season.  Even  with  no  lack  of  water  in  the  cisterns,  there 
is  danger  in  case  of  a  tire.  Dr.  Gilman,  whose  attention  was 
was  called  to  this  subject,  testifies  that  if  a  tire  should  break  out, 
they  have  very  limited  means  to  put  it  out — nothing  but  pails 
and  the  employes  about  the  institution.  He  says  that  they  have 
a  hose  which  might  be  used,  from  the  engine  house,  but  don’t 
think  it  could  be  used  extensively  ;  that  there  is  no  organization 
of  the  employes  as  a  fire  company ;  that  there  are  five  or  six 
buckets  to  each  ward ;  but  that  the  utmost  caution  is  taken  to 
guard  against  tire ;  and  that  the  wooden  arcade  or  corridor  above 
mentioned,  is  to  be  removed  when  means  are  furnished  to  remove  it. 

True,  the  hospital  has  never  been  in  flames,  but  to  guard  against 
such  a  contingency  and  provide  for  it  if  it  should  occur,  it  seems 
to  the  committee  that  hose  running  from  the  water  tank  in  the 
attic  into  every  ward  and  hall,  should  be  put  in,  so  that  in  case  of 
fire  the  whole  building  could  be  immediately  flooded  ;  that  the 


employes  should  be  organized  into  a  tire  company,  and  occasion¬ 
ally  drilled  in  their  duties  ;  and,  in  the  opinion  of  the  committee? 
nothing  less  than  these  precautionary  measures  would  relieve  the 
anxiety  of  the  people  of  the  State,  and  especially  those  who  have 
relatives  or  friends  among  the  patients,  and  who  are,  or  may 
become  aware  of  their  exposed  condition.  A  few  hundred  dollars 
thus  expended,  it  is  thought,  would  be  a  better  investment  than 
money  paid  by  the  State  to  insure  these  buildings. 

In  relation  to  the  support  of  the  institution,  ever  since  the  law 
of  February  21st,  1861,  it  is  evident  that  a  more  stringent  rule 
must  be  adopted  under  that  law,  or  its  main  dependence  will  con¬ 
tinue  to  be  upon  appropriations.  In  this  connection  it  will  be 
recollected  that  the  law  provides  that  board  and  attendance  shall 
be  furnished  to  paupers  at  the  expense  of  the  State,  the  counties 
or  towns  sending  them  to  provide  clothing  ;  but  as  to  those  formerly 
called  “  paying  patients,”  and  indigent  insane  and  not  paupers,  it 
is  otherwise.  Under  the  law  of  1861,  “  authorizing  and  direct¬ 
ing  ”  the  trustees  to  collect  from  such  patients  as  are  of  “  sufficient 
ability”  the  just  ^charges  of  their  support,  the  trustees  have 
assumed  that  the  law  now  recognizes  three  classes  of  patients, 
to- wit:  “paupers,”  “indigent  insane,”  or  those  not  paupers  but 
unable  to  pay  tor  their  support,  and  those  of  “sufficient  ability.” 
In  their  report  of  December,  1862,  they  say  the  task  of  “  discrim¬ 
ination  ”  and  “  determining  the  question  of  ability,”  is  a  difficult 
one ;  that  the  friends  of  some  of  the  patients  misrepresent  in 
order  to  escape  liability  ;  that  others,  in  their  anxiety  to  have  a 
patient  received  or  retained,  promise  readily  a  remuneration,  when 
a  thorough  investigation  shows  that  they  ought  not  to  be  charged, 
and  that  not  more  than  three  dollars  per  week  in  any  instance  is 
required  to  be  paid.  This  sum  has  since  been  increased  to  a  max¬ 
imum  of  $5  per  week.  In  practice,  this  responsibility  is  imposed 
upon  the  superintendent,  and  the  committee  are  informed  by  him 
that  no  regulations  have  been  adopted  requiring  proof  to  be  made 
touching  the  ability  of  the  patient  or  his  friends,  but  that  after 
hearing  the  statements  of  the  friends  of  the  patient,  he  decides 
whether  the  patient  is  able  to  pay  any,  and  if  so,  what  amount- — 
a  practice,  it  seems  to  the  committee,  not  only  attended  with 
difficulty,  but  liable  to  abuse. 

The  report  of  the  superintendent  of  December,  1S64,  shows 
there  were  then  in  the  hospital,  December  1st,  1862,  302;  that 


28 


during  the  two  years  ending  December  1st,  1864,  there  were 
admitted  408 ;  and  there  were  discharged  and  died,  during  the 
same  period,  409 ;  leaving  301  there  December  1st,  1864 — showing 
an  average  attendance  during  said  two  years  of  about  300.  The 
current  expenses  during  the  same  time  was  $132,753  IS,  or 
$61,376  09  per  annum,  being  $204  58  per  annum  of  gross  expense 
for  each  patient.  But  $14,185  00  was  received  for  board  of 
patients,  and  $22,734  87  for  clothing  furnished :  total,  $36,919  00, 
which  deducted  from  above  $132,753  18,  leaves  $95,833  31,  or 
$47,916  65  per  annum,  and  which  is  equal  to  $159  72  per  annum 
for  each  patient.  Or,  deducting  still  further,  $5,899  51,  as 
received  from  farm  during  said  two  years,  would  show  annual  net 
cost  to  the  State  of  $149  88  per  patient.  Deferring  to  the  gross 
and  net  costs  for  1865  and  1866,  heretofore  stated,  it  will  be 
noticed  that  the  expense  or  gross  costs  of  supporting  each  patient 
was  $303  09,  showing  an  increase  in  1865-6  over  1863-4  of 
$98  51.  The  net  costs  for  1865-6  per  patient  was  $203  19,  or  an 
increase  of  net  expense  of  the  later  over  former  term  of  $53  31 
per  patient  annually.  Amount  of  salaries  and  wages  for  1863-4 
was  $31,499  87,  and  for  1865-6  $43,983  14,  or  an  increase  of 
$12,483  27.  The  increase  of  admissions  during  the  latter  period 
is  thirty-eight,  and  discharges  and  deaths  twenty.  As  there  were 
301  in  hospital  December  1st,  1864,  and  318  December  1st,  1866, 
and  the  average  attendance  during  these  four  years  is  not  given, 
an  approximate  estimate  only  can  be  made  from  the  above  data. 

Sundry  exhibits  referred  to  in  the  testimony  are  transmitted 
with  this  report.  An  abstract  of  exhibit  “  B,  ”  and  other  statis¬ 
tical  information,  and  marked  schedule  “B,  ”  will  be  found  in 
the  journal  of  the  committee,  containing  the  number  of  paupers 
in  the  hospital  February  28th,  1867,  from  each  county;  the  num¬ 
ber  from  each  county  whose  friends  became  security,  and  the  pop¬ 
ulation  of  each  county,  according  to  the  census  of  1865.  Out*of 
the  336  then  in  hospital,  139  were  paupers. 

As  to  representation,  the  committee  have  not  been  able  to  see 
that  any  unfair  discrimination  has  been  made  in  admitting  patients 
from  the  several  counties  in  the  State.  But  one  serious  complaint 
concerning  representation  has  been  made  to  the  committee,  and 
that  is  made  by  Judge  Bradwell,  county  judge  of  Cook  county. 
His  complaint  is  not  that  Cook  county  has  not  had  her  proportion 
of  patients  admitted,  but  that  patients  (besides  married  women 


29 


and  infants)  have  been  habitually  admitted  from  that  county  with¬ 
out  the  trial  and  verdicts  required  by  law.  A  reference  to  the 
testimony  of  Judge  Brad  well  will  be  necessary  to  a  full  under¬ 
standing  of  this  complaint ;  and  the  committee  cannot  doubt,  in 
the  absence  of  explanatory  testimony,  that  the  irregularities  com¬ 
plained  of  to  some  extent  exist.  The  admission  ot  Mr.  McCor¬ 
mick,  of  Chicago,  mentioned  by  this  witness,  was  without  doubt, 
in  violation  of  law.  But  as  Mr.  McCormick  occupied  rooms,  dur¬ 
ing  the  month  he  and  his  wife  and  servants  were  in  the  hospital, 
which  were  usually  occupied  by  the  superintendent  and  his  family, 
and  the  institution  received  a  very  liberal  compensation  for  his 
treatment,  it  is  believed  that  there  was  no  improper  motive  in 
receiving  him,  although  a  practice  of  that  kind  could  not  legally 
be  justified.  The  testimony  of  Judge  Brad  well  is  very  positive 
that  many  persons,  not  married  women  or  infants,  previous  to  the 
passage  of  the  law  of  1867,  were  admitted  from  Cook  county 
without  a  trial  and  verdict  of  a  jury  ;  that  many  of  them  were 
paupers,  and  that  when  bills  were  sent  for  clothing  furnished 
them,  he  had  an  examination  of  the  records  made,  which  showed 
this  state  of  facts.  On  the  cross-examination  he  was  asked  if 
there  had  not  been  some  arrangement  with  the  agent  of  Cook 
county  and  himself,  by  which  paupers  from  the  Cook  County 
Alms  House  were  sent  to  the  hospital,  and  he  answered  that  he 
never  made  any  such  arrangement,  and  was  the  last  person  to 
make  an  arrangement  with  any  body  to  send  persons  to  the  hos¬ 
pital  without  a  trial.  In  consequence  of  this  practice,  the  witness 
said  persons  who  had  been  regularly  tried  and  found  insane,  were 
refused  admittance  because  the  quota  of  Cook  county  was  full  on 
account  of  those  irregular  and  illegal  admissions. 

ARE  PATIENTS  IMPROPERLY  RETAINED. 

The  next  inquiry  directed  to  be  made  was  whether  any  patients 
were  “  improperly  retained 55  in  the  hospital.  Under  the  provi¬ 
sions  of  the  law  of  March  5,  1867,  known  as  the  “  personal  liber¬ 
ty”  law,  the  trustees  of  the  hospital  were  directed,  as  before 
stated,  to  inform  all  patients  who  were  in  the  hospital,  and  who 
had  not  been  tried  and  found  insane,  or  distracted,  by  the  verdict 
of  a  jury,  as  provided  by  the  law  of  1865,  that  they  were  entitled 
to  such  trial,  and  that  unless  they  should  be  thus  tried  and  found 
insane  or  distracted,  within  two  months  after  the  passage  of  said 


I 


30 

act,  they  should  be  discharged.  Understanding  that  this  law  was 
being  executed  by  the  trustees,  the  committee  deemed  it  but  re¬ 
spectful  to  them  to  await  the  conclusion  of  the  trials  contemplated 
by  that  law,  and  therefore  postponed  the  personal  examination  of 
patients  until  their  meeting  in  July. 

It  appears  from  a  statement,  made  by  the  trustees  to  the  com¬ 
mittee,  of  such  trials,  and  the  record  and  proceedings  thereof,  that 
there  were  212  patients  in  the  hospital  who  were  tried  by  jury  in 
May,  under  the  supervision  of  the  trustees;  that  verdicts  of  in¬ 
sanity  in  each  of  them  were  rendered,  and  that  there  were  in  the 
hospital  about  125  in  addition,  who  had  been  tried  by  jury  pre¬ 
vious  to  their  admission  to  the  hospital.  The  committee  supposed 
that  the  law  of  March,  1867,  had  been  fairly  and  impartially  exe¬ 
cuted,  in  respect  to  these  trials,  yet  as  these  recent  verdicts  inclu¬ 
ded  but  a  part  of  the  patients,  it  of  course  was  the  duty  of  the 
committee  to  make  the  examination,  as  directed  by  the  Legisla¬ 
ture  ;  for  they  were  directed  to  ascertain  whether  the  inmates 
were  ‘^improperly  retained,”  and  that  involved  the  question  of 
the  insanity  of  all  of  them.  The  committee,  therefore,  on  the 
24th,  25th  and  26th  of  July,  made  a  personal  examination  of  every 
patient  in  the  hospital ;  and  in  that  examination  were  assisted  by 
Drs.  Johnson  and  Patterson,  as  heretofore  mentioned.  The  man¬ 
ner  of  the  examination,  and  the  testimony  of  these  gentlemen,  and 
also  the  testimony  of  other  witnesses,  will  be  found  in  the  journal 
of  the  committee.  It  may  be  proper  here  also  to  state  that,  in 
this  examination,  every  patient  whose  insanity  was  doubtful,  as 
well  as  many  cases  of  those  who  appeared  harmless  and  incura¬ 
ble,  were  noted  for  particular  subsequent  inquiry,  and  a  special 
examination  of  witnesses,  touching  such  cases,  was  made. 

There  were  then  in  the  hospital  170  male,  and  166  female,  pa¬ 
tients.  All  but  about  fifty  or  sixty  were  so  manifestly  insane  as 
to  require  but  a  moment’s  notice.  There  were  several  convales¬ 
cent  patients,  and  a  few  probably  wholly  recovered,  but  retained, 
as  was  stated  and  believed,  awaiting  their  friends  to  remove  them. 
It  was  the  opinion  of  Drs.  Johnson  and  Patterson  that  none  of 
this  number  were,  upon  the  ground  of  their  sanity  or  insanity, 
“  improperly  retained  ”  there  ;  and  in  this  opinion  the  committee, 
although  having  no  professional  knowledge  as  experts,  concur. 

It  appears,  however,  from  the  testimony  of  Dr.  Dutton,  the  first 
assistant  physician,  that  about  one-half  of  this  entire  number  are 


31 


incurable,  and  it  was  evident  to  the  committee  that  many  such 
were  harmless. 

It  also  appears,  from  a  list  of  discharges  furnished  the  com¬ 
mittee  by  the  superintendent,  that  there  were  127  patients  dis¬ 
charged  between  February  28th,  the  day  the  committee  was  ap¬ 
pointed,  and  July  24th,  the  day  of  the  commencement  of  inspec¬ 
tion  of  patients,  being  about  five  months.  During  the  two  years 
ending  December  1,  1866,  the  number  discharged,  for  various 
causes,  was  609,  or  about  25  per  month.  The  number  discharged 
during  the  above  five  months  is  about  at  the  same  rate.  The 
number  discharged  on  account  of  recovery ,  however,  during  these 
five  months,  was  60,  or  12  per  month ;  whereas  the  number  dis¬ 
charged  for  same  cause  during  said  two  years  was  146,  or  only 
about  6  per  month.  This  increase  in  the  rate  of  recovery  is  a  lit¬ 
tle  noticeable,  but  in  the  absence  of  proof  to  the  contrary,  the 
committee  are  bound  to  suppose  the  fact  incidental,  and  not  the 
result  of  a  policy  to  make  rapid  discharges  to  avoid  examination. 

UNJUST  COMMITMENTS. 

The  committee  were  next  specially  instructed  to  inquire  whether 
any  of  the  inmates  “  were  unjustly  placed  there.”  There  has 
been  no  evidence  received  by  the  committee  that  there  were  any 
patients  in  the  hospital  February  28th  or  July  24th,  1867,  who 
were  not  at  the  time  of  their  admission  insane ;  and  the  question 
as  to  whether  patients  were  “retained”  there  who  were  supposed 
to  be  sane,  has  already  been  briefly  considered. 

If  by  the  term  “  unjustly  placed  ”  there,  as  used  in  the  resolu¬ 
tion,  is  meant  whether  persons  were  placed  there  who  were  not 
at  the  time  insane,  then,  in  the  absence  of  evidence  to  the  con¬ 
trary,  the  presumption  is  that  no  such  cases  exist.  If,  however, 
it  is  meant  whether  any  patients  who  were  in  the  hospital  Feb¬ 
ruary  28th  were  received  without  the  presentation  to  the  super¬ 
intendent,  at  the  time,  of  the  evidence  of  their  insanity,  and  secu¬ 
rity  for  their  support  or  removal,  as  provided  by  law,  or  who  had 
been  committed  by  the  husband  or  guardian  subsequent  to  Feb¬ 
ruary  16,  I860,  without  complying  with  the  provisions  of  that 
law,  then  the  answer  must  be  in  the  affirmative ;  because  it  ap¬ 
peared,  from  a  careful  examination  of  the  papers  on  file,  that  of 
205  patients  in  hospital  April  3,  1867,  who  had  been  admitted 
since  the  passage  of  the  law  of  February  16,  1865,  the  papers  in 


I 


32 


but  57  were  regular  and  complete;  and  yet  it  did  not  appear,  from 
any  information  the  committee  received,  that  it  was  certain  that 
after  the  passage  of  said  law  any  persons  were  committed  who 
were  not  in  fact  tried  as  required  by  the  law ;  but  it  did  appear 
that  148  were  admitted  without  the  proper  legal  evidence  of  their 
insanity,  and  the  security  required  by  law.  Doubtless  there  arc 
occasional  instances  where  a  strict  compliance  with  the  law  on 
this  subject,  at  the  time  of  the  arrival  of  the  patient  at  the  hospi¬ 
tal,  would  be  almost  impracticable,  if  not  apparently  inhuman ; 
but  that  there  should  appear  so  large  a  proportion  of  the  admis¬ 
sions  in  violation  of  law,  shows  a  carelessness  on  this  subject  with¬ 
out  excuse,  and  deserving  of  censure. 

It  also  appears,  from  a  statement  of  the  superintendent,  that 
the  whole  number  of  married  ladies  admitted  prior  to  February 
16,  1865,  under  the  act  of  1853,  was  603,  and  that  the  number  of 
married  ladies  admitted  since  February  16,  1865,  and  prior  to 
December  1,  1866,  is  107,  or  about  28  per  cent. ;  that  the  whole 
number  of  infants  admitted  prior  to  February  16,  1865,  was  79, 
and  since  February  16,  1865,  and  prior  to  December  1,  1866, 
was  44. 

The  irregularities  in  admitting  patients,  above  mentioned,  do 
not  exclusively  relate  to  informal  papers,  or  a  want  of  proper  evi¬ 
dence  of  the  insanity  of  patients  before  admission,  or  the  proper 
and  formal  security  required  by  law  in  certain  cases,  but  extend 
to  cases  where  no  trial  was  required,  by  law,  as  in  case  of  married 
women.  Without  a  special  enumeration,  two  cases  on  this  point 
will  illustrate  the  evils  which  might  grow  out  of  a  disregard  of  the 
law,  as  it  formerly  existed,  without  a  trial.  One  case  was  that  of 
a  lady,  Louisana  E-ittenhouse,  who  had  been  in  the  hospital  since 
March  10, 1865,  and  who  was  understood  to  be  a  married  woman. 
The  only  paper  on  file,  or  which  had  been  on  file,  as  authority  for 
her  admission,  was  a  statement  from  some  gentleman  (who  was 
certified,  by  a  justice  of  the  peace,  to  be  a  physician)  that  he 
thought  the  lady  insane ;  but  who  brought  her  there,  or  whether 
he  died  afterwards,  or  was  still  living,  or  whether  the  patient  then 
was,  or  ever  had  been,  a  married  woman,  did  not  appear,  either 
from  papers  or  the  recollection  of  any  one  in  the  hospital. 

The  other  case  was  that  of  a  Mrs.  Julia  Gritzner,  of  Will 
county,  who  was  brought  to  the  hospital  March  17,  1864,  by  her 
son,  and  discharged  April  8,  1867.  Mrs.  Shedd  testifies  that  she 


was  a  very  lady-like  person,  and  very  quiet,  and  was  accustomed 
to  follow  visitors  to  the  door,  and  inquire  about  her  friends.  Mr. 
Morrison,  one  of  the  trustees,  and  Mr.  Dummer,  counsel  for  trus¬ 
tees,  in  a  report  made  to  the  trustees  June  13,  1867,  concerning 
the  trials  under  the  law  of  1867,  heretofore  referred  to,  say  “that 
Mrs.  Gritzner  was  brought  to  the  hospital  under  the  law  of  1853, 
by  her  son ;  that  certain  parties,  not  her  relatives,  were  anxious 
to  take  her  away,  but  her  son  remonstrated,  and  she,  remaining 
insane,  was  detained  in  the  hospital ;  that,  subsequently,  her  son 
consented  to  her  removal ;  that  about  five  weeks  prior  to  June  3, 
1867,  some  of  the  parties  interesting  themselves  in  her  case  came 
to  take  her  away,  and  her  son  having  in  the  meantime  consented, 
she  was  allowed  to  be  taken  away  ;  that  it  appeared  that  the  par¬ 
ties  had  a  writ  of  habeas  corpus ,  but  no  objection  having  been 
made  the  last  time  to  her  removal,  the  writ  of  habeas  corpus  was 
not  used,  and  was  understood  to  be  abandoned.” 

Grave  suspicions  from  reputable  sources  have  reached  the  com¬ 
mittee,  touching  the  motives  of  the  son,  now  reported  dead,  in 
causing  his  mother  to  be  sent  to  the  hospital ;  but  as  no  intima¬ 
tion  has  been  made  that  the  superintendent  of  the  hospital  was  a 
party  to  any  intentional  wrong,  and  Mrs.  Gritzner  was  discharged 
before  the  committee  visited  the  hospital,  they  have  not  investi¬ 
gated  the  case  further  than  to  show  that  she  was  committed  to 
and  detained  in  the  hospital  in  flagrant  violation  of  law.  Even 
the  law  of  1853  did  not  authorize  a  son  to  commit  his  mother  to 
the  hospital  without  the  verdict  of  a  jury  of  her  insanity.  It 
only  authorized  a  Imsband ,  with  the  approval  of  the  superintend¬ 
ent,  to  commit,  and  that  power  or  right  would  cease  on  the  termi¬ 
nation  of  the  marital  relations  by  death  or  divorce.  Assuming— 
and  the  committee  understand  that  to  be  the  fact — that  Mrs. 
Gritzner  was  insane,  it  does  not  relieve  any  parties  from  deserved 
censure  who  were  instrumental  in  commiting  or  detaining  the 
patient  there  without  a  trial ;  and  on  this  point  the  committee 
would  only  add,  that  if  such  abuses  have  been  tolerated,  what¬ 
ever  difference  of  opinion  there  may  have  been  at  the' time,  touch¬ 
ing  the  stringent  provisions  of  the  law  of  1S67,  and  the  necessity 
of  repealing  the  law  of  1853,  there  ought  not  to  be  any  contro¬ 
versy  now  on  that  point,  and  the  law  of  1867  should  afford  a 
source  of  sincere  congratulation. 


34 


TREATMENT  OF  PATIENTS. 


\ 


f 


The  next  and  last  specific  inquiry  the  committee  are  required 
to  make,  is  whether  the  inmates  are  humanely  and  kindly  treated. 
Have  the  patients  in  the  hospital  been  “  humanely  and  kindly 
treated  ?”  And  if  not,  upon  whom  does  the  responsibility  of  a 
want  of  such  treatment  rest?  These  are  the  most  important  and 
vital  inquiries  relating  to  this  investigation,  and  the  committee 
have  pursued  them  with  a  painful  consciousness  of  the  responsi¬ 
bilities  which  they  owed  to  the  people  of  the  State,  in  ascertain- 
ing  by  personal  examination  and  proof  the  real  facts  on  this  sub¬ 
ject.  It  would  be  a  waste  of  time  and  a  mockery  of  solemn  duty 
to  argue  the  proposition  that  the  patients  of  an  insane  hospital  are 
entitled  to  humane  and  kind  treatment  on  the  part  of  those  who 
have  the  custody  and  care  of  them,  or  that  it  would  be  a  violation 
of  one  of  the  highest  and  holiest  public  obligations,  knowingly  to 
retain  any  man  or  woman  in  charge  of  them  who  should  be  habit¬ 
ually  forgetful  of  the  solemn  duties  imposed  upon  him  or  her;  to 
protect  and  not  smite ;  to  sympathize  with  and  not  offend  ;  to 
even  cherish  and  not  outrage  and  abuse  this  most  unfortunate 
class  of  our  fellow  citizens. 

Assuming,  therefore,  that  the  pitiable  condition  of  these  depen¬ 
dent  and  defenceless  patients  would  almost  surely  afford  them 
constant  protection  against  intentional  neglect  or  habitual  abuse, 
the  committee,  in  examining  witnesses  on  this  subject,  has  been 
constantly  disinclined  to  believe,  without  the  most  convincing 
proof,  that  any  person  could  be  capable  of  such  neglect  and  abuse. 
And  it  was  mainly  in  view  of  the  fact  that  severe  public  condem¬ 
nation  would  rest  upon  any  one,  and  especially  upon  any  officer 
of  the  hospital  who  should  be  shown  to  be  responsible  for  abuses 
of  this  character,  that  the  committee  decided  to  afford  everv 
opportunity  for  explanation  or  defense  against  such  charges.  The 
superintendent  in  person,  as  well  as  his  counsel  and  one  or  more 
of  the  trustees,  have  been  present  at  the  meetings  of  the  commit¬ 
tee,  and  a  patient  and  protracted  examination  of  witnesses  has 
been  allowed,  and  the  committee  are  confident  that  no  mere  tech¬ 
nical  rule  or  objection  has  been  adopted  to  prevent  the  fullest 
investigation  into  the  truth. 

The  patients  are  governed  and  disciplined  by  the  following 
officers  and  employees — 


35 


1.  The  superintendent,  who  is  the  chief  executive  officer  of 
the  institution  ;  who  is  authorized  to  appoint  and  exercise  entire 
official  control  over  all  subordinate  officers  and  assistants  in  its  ser¬ 
vice.  He  prescribes  the  duties  of  these  assistants,  and  is  required 
to  see  them  faithfully  performed.  He  is  given  entire  supervision 
of  the  patients  in  their  medical,  moral  and  physical  treatment ; 
and  it  is  made  his  duty  to  visit  the  patients  in  their  wards  as  fre¬ 
quently  as  may  be  necessary  to  keep  himself  fully  advised  of  their 
condition. 

2.  Two  assistant  physicians,  whose  general  duties  are  declared 
to  be :  to  prepare  and  superintend  the  administration  of  medicine; 
to  visit  the  wards  frequently,  and  carefully  note  the  condition  and 
progress  of  the  patients  ;  to  see  that  the  directions  of  the  superin¬ 
tendent  are  executed,  and  promptly  report  any  cases  of  neglect 
or  abuse  that  may  come  under  their  cognizance  ;  and,  in  case  of 
the  absence  of  the  superintendent,  the  senior  shall  exercise  the 
duties  of  such  superintendent. 

3.  A  matron,  who,  under  the  general  direction  of  the  superin¬ 
tendent,  has  charge  of  the  domestic  concerns  of  the  institution, 
and  an  oversight  of  the  female  attendants  and  domestics.  Among 
various  other  duties,  she  is  required  to  make  dai!y  inspection  of 
the  wards  and  rooms  occupied  by  female  patients  ;  to  have  special 
care  of  sick  female  patients ;  to  reprove,  or  report  to  the  superin¬ 
tendent,  any  material  departure  from  rule,  and  to  spend  as  much 
time  in  the  wards  of  the  female  division  as  may  be  necessary  to 
see  that  the  female  attendants  discharge  their  duties. 

4.  One  male  and  two  female  supervisors,  whose  general  duties 
require  them  to  have  an  oversight  of  the  sick;  and,  under  the 
direction  of  the  superintendent,  assistant  physicians  and  matron, 
to  see  that  the  rules  prescribing  the  duties  of  attendants  towards 
the  patients  are  faithfully  observed.  They  are  required  to  spend 
their  time  chiefly  in  the  wards,  and  to  report  to  the  superintendent 
any  attendant  who  wilfully  violates  the  rules,  or  whose  incapacity 
is  obvious. 

5.  Twelve  male  and  fifteen  female  Attendants,  having  charge, 
under  their  superiors,  on  the  26th  of  July  last,  of  twelve  wards, 
containing  170  male  and  166  female  patients.  These  attendants 
(usually  two  to  each  w*ard)  occupy  rooms  in  the  wards,  and  their 
place  of  duty  is  in  the  wards  with  their  patients. 


/ 


36 


These  officers  and  employees  are  the  constant  and  active  gov¬ 
erning  force.  The  by-laws  and  regulations  adopted  in  September, 
1857,  and  approved  by  Governor  Bissell,  and  now  in  force,  it 
seems  to  the  committee,  constitute,  upon  the  whole,  a  wise  and 
humane  code  for  the  government  of  the  hospital.  They  strictly 
enjoin  kindness  and  forbearance  towards  the  patients.  The  fol¬ 
lowing  extracts  are  taken  from  these  regulations : 


“  In  dealing  with  patients,  the  greatest  care  should  be  used  that 
they  be  always  treated  with  unvarying  kindness.  They  should 
always  be  addressed  in  persuasive  language — all  authoritative 
expressions  being  strictly  avoided.  In  the  wards,  especially,  no 
commands  should  be  used,  or  calls  uttered  to  a  patient  from  a  dis- 
(  tance,  if  possible  to  be  avoided.  All  threats,  taunts,  or  other 
kind  of  abuse  in  language,  are  expressly  prohibited ;  and  no  one 
will  be  retained  in  service  who  habitually  indulges  therein.  A 
blow,  kick,  or  any  other  form  of  physical  abuse  inflicted,  will  be 
sufficient  reason  for  the  prompt  dismissal  of  the  individual  so 
offending.” 


/''“An  attendant  shall  never,  under  any  circumstances,  use  greater 
-^/force  toward  a  patient  than  is  sufficient  to  secure  the  patient,  him¬ 
self,  or  others,  from  the  effects  of  his  violence.  After  he  is  seclu¬ 
ded  in  his  or  her  room,  the  supervisor,  or  some  superior  officer, 
in  his  absence,  should  be  informed  of  what  has  occurred/' 

^-"Copies  of  these  regulations  are  required  to  be  kept  in  each 
attendant’s  room,  and  in  each  employee’s  dining-room ;  and  it  is 
shown  to  be  the  custom  of  the  superintendent  to  occasionally  read 
them  to  all  the  attendants  and  employees,  assembled  together  for 
that  purpose,  and  specially  comment  upon  those  portions  of  them 
which  enjoin  kind  treatment  to  the  patients. 

Notwithstanding,  however,  these  duties  of  kindness  to  patients 
are  by  these  regulations  required  of  all,  it  has  not  escaped  the 
attention  of  the  committee  that,  while  it  is  made  the  duty  of  the 
assistant  physicians  to  “promptly  report  any  cases  of  neglect  or 
abuse  that  may  come  under  their  observation,”  and  the  matron  is 
required  to  “report  to  the  superintendent  any  material  departure 
from  rule,  or  anything  censurable  in  moral  deportment,”  and  the 
supervisors  are  required  to  report  to  the  superintendent  “any 
attendant  who  willfully  violates  the  rules,  or  whose  incapacity  is 
obvious,”  yet,  by  omission  or  design,  the  attendants  are  neither 


37 


required  or  permitted  by  these  regulations  to  report  each  other's 
delinquencies  to  the  matron,  supervisor  or  superintendent;  and 
the  evidence  shows  that,  by  some  employees  at  least,  it  was  well 
understood  that  such  reports  would  not  find  favor. 

/  It  cannot,  in  the  opinion  of  the  committee,  be  pretended  that 
f  the  practice  of  cruelty  by  attendants  towards  patients  is  encoura- 
j  ged,  or,  as  a  policy,  sanctioned  by  the  officers  ;  nor,  can  any  pos¬ 
sible  motive  be  imagined  why  it  should  be ;  tor,  to  suppose  that 
brutality  is  encouraged,  is  to  assume  either  that  the  government 
of  the  patients  can  be  more  easily  administered  by  converting  the 
hospital  into  a  house  of  torture,  and,  therefore,  the  policy  adopted 
as  a  mere  matter  of  convenience,  or,  that  the  officers  permit 
abuses  for  the  mere  gratification  of  depraved  and  abandoned 
hearts.  No  such  motives  can  be  justly  ascribed  these  officers ; 
and,  whatever  abuses  are  or  may  be  found  to  exist,  must  be  the 
result  of  causes  growing  out  of  the  government  of  men  and 
women.  As  they  are  in  palpable  violation  of  established  and  well 
understood  printed  regulations,  they  must  originate  from,  or  their 
repetition,  at  least,  be  attributed  to  a  want  of  rigid  discipline  over 
the  attendants,  and  that  constant  care  and  watchfulness  on  the 
part  of  the  officers  so  indispensably  necessary  in  such  an  institu¬ 
tion. 

It  is  not,  however,  of  so  much  importance  to  ascertain  motives 
or  causes,  as  facts ;  and,  while  a  careful  examination  of  the  whole 
evidence  on  this  branch  of  the  investigation  is  necessary  to  a  full 
understanding  of  it,  the  committee  would  respectfully  call  your 
Excellency’s  special  attention  to  the  testimony  of  Miss  Ivane,  Mrs. 
Graff,  Capt.  John  Henry,  Miss  Kee,  Mrs.  Bland,  George  Merrett, 
John  C.  Edmunson,  Mrs.  Cassell,  and  Mrs.  Packard.  The  testi¬ 
mony  of  these  witnesses,  as  of  all  others  examined,  is,  as  already 
stated,  included  in  the  journal  of  the  committee,  and  submitted  as 
a  part  of  this  report,  and  will  not  be  here  repeated  ;  but  reference 
to  the  character  of  these  witnesses,  and  the  substance  of  their  tes¬ 
timony,  may  not  be  improper. 

As  the  testimony  is  in  writing,  and  is  to  be  considered  by 
others,  without  the  opportunity  of  personally  hearing  and  seeing 
the  witnesses,  it  is  proper  here  to  say,  that  all  the  witnesses,  with, 
perhaps,  two  or  three  unimportant  exceptions,  who  were  examined, 
were  of  more  than  ordinary  intelligence,  and  appeared  candid  and 
eminently  worty  the  fullest  credit.  It  is  true  that  there  are  some 


i 


S8 


discrepancies  or  contradictions  in  their  testimony,  but  the  most  of 
them  are  upon  collateral  or  unimportant  matter;  and  none,  with 
the  exceptions  alluded  to,  in  the  opinion  of  the  committee,  of  so 
serious  a  character  as  to  involve  the  integrity  of  the  witnesses. 

Miss  Kane  testified,  that  she  was  44  years  old,  resided  in  Chris¬ 
tian  county,  and  was  an  attendant  in  hospital  from  about  the  mid¬ 
dle  of  August,  18G5,  until  the  latter  part  of  December,  of  the 
same  year.  When  she  went  there  Dr.  McFarland  told  her  he 
wanted  her  to  assist  in  taking  charge  of  a  ward,  then  in  charge  of  an 
|  attendant  who,  although  not  officially  reported  to  him,  yet  he 
\  knew  she  was  cruel  to  patients,  lie  told  her  she  would  hear  a 
great  many  hard  stories  about  the  institution,  but  she  must  not 
believe  a  word  of  them.  A  Mrs.  Dorcas  Hitter  was  the  co-attend¬ 
ant  of  witness,  in  the  new  8th  ward  ;  and  the  first  thing  witness 
noticed  was  the  cruelty  of  this  Mrs.  Ritter  to  the  patients.  Mrs. 
Ritter  would  not  let  them  sit  down,  and  if  she  found  them  so  sit¬ 
ting,  she  would  take  them  by  the  hair  of  the  head  and  lift  them 
,on  the  seat,  and  if  they  resisted  she  would  often  shove  them  back 
against  the  wall  and  choke  them,  or  compel  them  in  some  harsh 
way  to  comply.  The  benches  in  the  ward  were  straight  backed 
and  hard  to  sit  upon  ;  and  Mrs.  Ritter  told  witness,  that  if  she 
allowed  the  patients  to  sit  upon  the  floor  and  rest  them,  that  Dr. 
McFarland  would  be  mad,  and  which  witness  subsequently  found 
to  be  true.  This  Mrs.  Ritter,  for  a  slight  offense  upon  the  part  of 
the  patients,  would  give  them  what  was  called  a  cold  bath,  which 
punishment  consisted  in  putting  the  patients  in  a  bath  tub,  half  or 
two-thirds  filled  with  cold  water,  their  hands  and  feet  tied,  and  if 
they  resisted,  a  straight  jacket  was  placed  upon  them,  their  heads 
plunged  under  the  water  as  long  as  it  was  safe  to  leave  them,  then 
lifted  out  for  a  few  moments  to  allow  them  to  breathe  and  cast  the 
water  from  their  stomach,  and  the  same  process  continued  as  long 
as  the  patient  was  thought  able  to  bear  it. 

Witness  further  swore,  that  this  Mrs.  Ritter  told  her  she  camo 
near  killing  a  patient  named  MissD.  Haven,  and  that  Dr.  Dutton, 
who  chanced  to  be  passing  shortly  after,  observed  that  the  patient 
looked  sick,  and  on  being  informed  that  Mrs.  Ritter  had  been 
giving  her  a  bath,  the  Doctor  told  her  how  long  it  was  safe  to 
keep  them  under  water,  and  if  they  kept  them  in  until  they 
'omited,  there  was  danger  of  their  dying.  Witness  further  stated 
that  in  giving  patients  these  baths  they  were  generally  plunged 


/ 


39 


three  or  four  times,  until  quite  prostrate  and  unable  to  resist. 
Miss  Kane  stated  that  this  Mrs  Ritter  remained  in  the  institution 
about  three  or  four  weeks  after  Miss  Kane  went  there,  but  that 
before  Mrs.  R.  left,  she-  administered  these  baths  three  or  four 
times  to  different  patients;  and  that  Mns.  R.  told  her  that 
the  attendants  were  not  allowed  to  administer  these  baths, 
without  instructions  from  the  Doctor,  but  that  they  sometimes  did 
do  it  without  such  instructions,  and  the  Doctor  knew  it ;  and  that 
the  Doctor  and  Miss  Belle  Bailey  and  Mrs.  Haskett  set  them  the 
example  of  giving  the  patients  these  baths,  and  “  breaking  them 
in,”  as  they  called  it.  Miss  Kane  swvears  that  the  patients  were 
sick  for  several  days,  and  sometimes  two  weeks,  after  receiving 
these  baths. 

Witness  also  swore  that  her  ward  was  the  new  5th,  and  was 
made  up  of  some  of  the  hardest  and  most  obstinate  cases  from  the 
other  wards;  that  she  saw  this  Mrs.  Ritter  frequently  jacket  and  beat 
patients ;  that  at  one  time,  during  witness’  stay  in  the  institution, 
eleven  patients  were  sick  with  flux  in  her  ward,  and  that  they 
were  not  furnished  with  medicines,  nor  she  with  any  extra  help 
or  nurses,  and  that  four  of  them  died ;  that  she,  witness,  made  no 
complaints  to  Dr.  McFarland  of  these  abuses,  because  it  was 
understood  in  the  institution  that  such  cpraplaints  would  receive 
no  attention. 

It  was  undertaken  to  be  shown,  on  cross  examination  of  this 

m 

witness,  that  she  herself  was  guilty  of  abuse  to  patients.  She 
admitted  that  on  one  occasion,  a  stout  and  violent  patient,  a  Mrs. 
Ryan,  made  an  attack  on  an  attendant,  and  she  assisted  to  control 
her  until  assistance  could  be  procured  from  another  ward,  and  that 
during  the  struggle,  she,  witness,  u  spanked”  the  patient  with  her 
shoe ;  that  she  thus  used  her  shoe  on  one  or  two  other  occasions  ; 
and  that  she  once  tapped  this  same  Mrs.  Ryan  on  the  shoulder 
with  the  broom;  and  that  she  sometimes  was  obliged  to  take 
patients  by  the  hair  of  the  head  to  hold  them ;  but  she  denied 
ever  having  been  cruel,  or  injuring  patients,  although  she  claimed 
that  although  attendants  ought  not  to  be  allowed  promiscuously 
to  strike  patients,  yet  it  might  be  sometimes  properly  done  consci¬ 
entiously,  but  not  to  injure  them. 

Witness  also  mentioned  another  case  of  a  Mrs.  Magin,  who  was 
indecently  treated  by  Mrs.  Haskett.  Soon  after  she  entered  the 
institution,  Mrs.  McFarland  (who,  from  the  evidence,  appears  to 


40 


have  been  a  most  kind  and  spmpatlietic  lady)  told  witness  that  the 
patients  were  not  being  kindly  treated,  and  that  there  must  be  a 
change,  as  the  matter  was  getting  out  and  would  damage  the 
institution. 

Mrs.  Graff,  (formerly  Mrs.  P.  L.  Ilosmer,)  testified  that  she 
resided  near  Jacksonville ;  was  fifty-two  years  old ;  and  the  let¬ 
ters  published  in  a  pamphlet  shown  her,  signed  P.  L.  Graff  and 
P.  L.  Ilosmer,  were  written  by  her  and  were  true ;  that  she  was 
acquainted  with  Dr.  McFarland  when  he  had  charge  of  a  similar  in¬ 
stitution  in  New  Hampshire,  and  at  his  solicitation  entered  the  service 
of  the  hospital  here,  in  July,  1858.  She  was  directress  in  the  sew¬ 
ing  room  about  four  years  and  half,  and  left  October  10, 1861.  W it- 
ness  testifies  generally  that  the  discipline  of  the  institution  was 
too  harsh  and  unnecessary  for  its  government,  and  that  she  had 
frequently  known  of  cruel  punishments  inflicted  upon  patients  ; 
that  the  cases  were  so  numerous  that  she  did  not  pretend  to  re¬ 
member  them  all.  She  expressed  the  opinion,  as  did  Miss  Kane, 
that  she  did  not  believe  that  these  cruelties  were  at  the  direction, 
or,  at  the  time,  with  the  knowledge  of  Dr.  McFarland,  whose 
general  instructions  to  the  attendants  were  to  treat  the  patients 
kindly.  She,  however,  mentions  one  most  remarkable  exception, 
where  the  punishment  was  inflicted  by  his  own  direction.  The 
testimony  in  relation  to  this  and  other  particular  cases,  which  are 
charged  against  Dr.  McFarland,  personally,  will  be  stated  together 
hereafter. 

Mrs.  G.  swears  to  the  punishment  of  a  Miss  Jane  Barackman, 
by  shower-bath,  for  improper  conduct  to  an  attendant.  The  patient 
had  been  taken  out  of  the  water,  and  was  just  able  to  speak.  At 
another  time  this  same  patient  was  strapped  with  her  hands 
behind  her  back,  in  the  morning,  and  the  straps  kept  on  until  the 
next  morning,  and  her  groans  during  the  night  kept  the  witness 
from  sleeping ;  and  the  witness  further  states,  that  she  had 
known  instances  where  the  straps  had  been  drawn  so  tightly  as 
to  cut  through  the  skin,  and  into  the  flesh.  Another  instance 
named  was  a  new  jiutient,  on  the  night  after  arrival,  whom  the 
witness  thought,  from  the  sound  of  the  voice,  was  being  choked 
by  two  attendants.  She  told  Mrs.  McFarland  of  it,  who  informed 
the  Doctor.  The  Doctor  went  into  the  room  where  the  patient 
was,  and,  after  staying  some  time,  came  out  but  did  not  speak  to 
witness.  The  next  morning  she  asked  the  Doctor  if  what  she 


✓ 


said  about  choking  the  patient  was  a  lie,  and  he  said  “no,”  but  it 
was  best  to  say  nothing  about  it,  as  one  of  the  attendants  was 
going  away,  and  it  would  hurt  the  institution  to  have  it  go  out. 
Another  case  was  that  of  Mrs.  Farenside,  who  was  sitting  down, 
on  a  certain  occasion — the  Doctor  said  he  was  “cooling  her  off,” 
and  directed  witness  not  to  go  to  her.  Another  case  was  that 
of  Mrs.  Boyce.  This  was  a  very  emaciated  patient,  and  “her 
stomach  all  crushed  in  as  it  were.”  She  was  a  wild  patient,  and 
would  tear  up  and  take  off  her  clothes,  but  witness  could  always 
manage  her  better  than  others.  Witness  had  seen  her  sitting  day 
after  dav  with  her  feet  tied;  and  on  one  occasion  she  and  Mrs. 
McFarland  found  her  in  the  screen  room,  laying  on  her  back  on  a 
hard  pallet  of  straw,  with  her  feet  tied,  andher  hands  tied  Lehind 
hack  with  a  large  bed-cord,  and  just  alive.  She  had  a  straight- 
jacket  on,  and  the  jacket  was  laced  up  with  ropes  as  large  as  bed- 
cord.  The  witness  held  the  light  and  Mrs..  McF.,  manifesting  her 
grief  in  groans,  untied  the  patient.  Witness  afterwards  showed 
this  jacket  to  Miss  Dix,  when  she  was  there,  and  the  pattern  of 
the  jackets  were  alterwards  changed,  and  softer  cords  used  in 
lacing  the  jackets. 

Witness  John  Henry,  who  has  resided  in  Jacksonville,  about 
forty  years,  and  was  a  member  of  the  State  Senate  when  the  act 
of  incorporation  was  passed,  in  1847,  and  afterwards  steward  of 
the  hospital,  about  one  year,  from  1848  to  1849.  His  situation 
made  him  acquainted  with  the  general  treatment  of  patients;  and 
knew  of  cases  of  cruelty  and  inhuman  treatment  to  them. 

One  case  was  an  Englishman,  whose  name  he  does  not  remem¬ 
ber.  Said  he  had,  on  one  occasion,  returned  from  down-town, 
and  was  standing  outside  of  the  building,  and  heard  a  distressing 
voice  in  the  second  ward,  and  went  into  the  building  and  found 
the  patient  in  the  hands  of  two  men  holding  him  on  his  back, 
and  the  third  man  standing  on  the  bathing  tub  and  pouring  water 
in  his  face  and  nose  from  a  pail.  The  patient  was  struggling  and 
strangling  for  breath.  The  witness  rescued  the  patient,  and  drove 
the  attendants  from  the  room,  and  reported  the  case  to  Dr.  Mc¬ 
Farland.  He  subsequently  called  the  Doctor’s  attention  to  the 
case,  with  the  view  of  having  it  investigated,  and  had  a  Mr. 
Crandley  do  the  same.  Being  satisfied  that  the  case  was  not  in¬ 
vestigated  he  reported  it  to  Mr.  Stephenson,  the  president  of  the 
board,  and  told  him  if  such  things  occurred  again  he  would  make 


42 


complaint  to  the  grand  jury.  He  says  he  frequently  heard  of 
other  cases  of  cruelty,  from  persons  employed  about  the  building. 
Witness  thinks  Dr.  McFarland  is  destitute  of  common  sympathy 
to  the  patients,  and  did  not  listen  to  their  complaints  with  kind¬ 
ness;  nor  give  that  personal  attention  to  the  conduct  of  the 
attendants  which  was  necessary  to  a  personal  knowledge  of  their 
treatment ;  and  appeared  indifferent  when  complaints  of  cruelty 
were  made  to  4iim. 

Miss  Jennie  Kee,  who  is  24  yeas  old,  resides  in  Jacksonville, 
and  was  an  attendant  from  the  spring  of  1861  to  1862,  about  14- 
months  ;  swears  to  a  case  of  cruelty  (about  one  month  after  she 
went  there)  to  a  patient  named  Anna  Myers,  by  an  attendant 
named  Elizabeth  Bonah.  The  attendant  took  the  patient,  who 
was  a  very  insane  and  idiotic  patient,  by  the  hair  of  the  head  and 
pounded  the  door  with  it.  She  saw  this  punishment  inflicted 
several  times.  Also  knew  of  same  attendant  punishing  a  MftS 
Thompson  by  taking  her  by  the  hand  and  twisting  her  arm  ;  and 
a  Miss  Kate  Daly,  by  striking  her  hands  with  keys,  leaving 
marks.  Also  a  Mrs.  Loop,  by  same  attendant,  by  pulling  her 
and  putting  her  wrist  out  of  joint. 

This  Elizabeth  Bofiah,  wTho  appears  from  the  testimony  of  sev¬ 
eral  witnesses,  to  have  been  a  merciless  and  brutal  wretch,  was 
in  the  institution  as  an  attendant  when  this  witness  went  there 
and  when  she  left. 

Mrs.  Sarah  Bland,  aged  39  years,  and  a  resident  of  Jackson¬ 
ville,  was  attendant  from  March,  1863,  to  October,  1865,  (a  part 
of  the  time  was  in  sewing  room,)  and  had  opportunities  of  know¬ 
ing  the  general  treatment  of  patients;  swears  that  the  first  two 
years  that  she  was  there,  and  while  Mrs.  McFarland  was  matron, 
the  patients  were  treated  kindly.  About  seven  months  before  she 
left,  Mrs.  McFarland,  wTho  was  the  matron,  left  the  institution  and 
went  east  and  returned  in  the  spring,  but  was  not  able  after  her 
return  to  act  as  matron.  After  Mrs.  McFarland  left,  the  witness 
saw  patients  treated  very  cruelly.  This  witness  mentions  the 
abuse  of  Mrs.  Fames,  who  was  a  very  stupid,  quiet  and  delicate 
looking  patient.  In  the  spring  of  1865,  the  witness  heard  screams 
in  the  bath-room.  A  Miss  Kate  Snow  came  out  of  the  room  and 
inquired  for  the  Doctor,  and  said  that  Miss  Lawrence,  the  atten¬ 
dant,  had  Miss  Eames  in  the  bath-room  and  was  beating  her 
brutally.  Witness  went  into  the  wash-room,  and,  on  coming  out, 


43 


heard  the  blows,  and  then  went  into  the  ward,  when  Miss  Law¬ 
rence  came  out  of  the  bath-room  and  locked  the  door,  and  said 
witness  could  not  have  any  patients  out  of  that  ward.  In  the 
evening  witness  saw  Miss  Eames  in  bed,  and  told  witness,  her 
eyes  tilling  with  tears  at  the  time,  that  Miss  Lawrence  had  almost 
killed  her,  and  asked  to  look  at  her  back,  which  witness  was  pre¬ 
vented  from  doing  by  Miss  Lawrence,  who  came  in  and  told  wit¬ 
ness  to  go  out  of  the  ward — that  she  should  not  come  in  and 
excite  the  patients.  Witness  had  three  patients  to  go  out  of  the 
ward  into  the  sewing-room  ;  and  Miss  Lawrence  took  them  by  the 
back  and  pushed  them  violently  into  the  ward.  The  patient  died 
one  week  after  the  morning  she  was  pounded. 

The  next  was  in  the  spring  of  1865.  A  Mrs.  Sutton,  who  was 
not  a  violent  patient  and  seemed  to  be  in  good  heal  h,  was  pun¬ 
ished  very  badly  by  two  attendants — Mrs.  Lydia  Higgs  and  Miss 
Bell  Bailey — and  was  confined  to  her  room  for  two  weeks  after 
her  punishment ;  at  the  expiration  of  which  time  the  witness 
saw  her,  when  the  patient’s  face  was  a  dark  green  color,  without 
any  natural  flesh  except  around  the  mouth.  (This  Miss  Bailey  is 
still  retained,  and  is  supervisoress  in  the  hospital,  and  d.  nies  that 
punishments  are  ever  inflicted  in  the  hospital,  or  that  she  ever, 
intentionally,  injured  a  patient.) 

The  next  case  mentioned  by  this  witness  was  that  of  Maggie 
Howland,  in  the  summer  of  1865.  The  witness  heard  a  struggle 
in  the  bath  room  and  attempted  to  go  in,  but  was  prevented  by 
Miss  Bailey,  who  was  in  the  room,  and  put  her  foot  against  the 
door  and  shut  it.  The  witness  stayed  near  by  for  some  time,  and 
heard  brutal  blows  administered  to  patient.  The  patient  was 
kept  in  the  bath  room  for  some  time  after.  In  the  evening  wit¬ 
ness  saw  her,  and  li  ;r  face  was  badly  beaten  up;  and  on  being 
spoken  to  by  witness  the  patient  cried  and  looked  as  though  she 
had  no  friends.  This  patient,  who  was  lame,  was  a  talkative,  noisy 
person,  but  did  not  appear  to  be  violent.  The  witness  says  that 
the  reason  she  did  not  tell  the  Doctor  was,  that  she  was  afraid 
of  getting  into  a  scrape  if  she  told,  for  the  Doctor  had,  before  this, 
told  her  he  did  not  wish  to  have  her  make  any  mischief  by  get¬ 
ting  up  excitement  among  the  patients  she  was  with.  She  says 
she  afterwards,  however,  did  report  a  case  to  the  Doctor,  and  he 
told  her  to  mind  her  own  business,  and  she  after  this  did  not 
report  other  cases  to  the  Doctor  because  of  this  conversation. 


44 


The  last  case  which  this  witness  mentions  was  that  of  a  Mrs. 
Clark,  who  had  been  sick  sometime  in  bed,  and  as  the  attendants 
were  dragging  her  to  the  bath  room,  she  asked  them  not  to  take 
her  there,  but  to  let  her  die  where  she  was.  As  they  raised  the 
patient  to  put  her  in  the  bathtub,  she  dropped  down  dead.  The 
names  of  these  attendants  are  Miss  Mary  Rice  and  Miss  Mary 
Smith. 

George  Merrick,  aged  forty -five  years,  and  residence  Jackson¬ 
ville,  was  an  attendant  in  hospital  from  February  to  June,  1866, 
and  testifies  to  the  abuse  of  Jacob  Myers,  a  young  patient,  by  the 
supervisor  Mr.  Doane,  who,  without  provocation,  caught  him  by 
the  ankles  when  he  was  undressing  and  threw  him  on  the  floor 
and  injured  him  severely.  Also  David  Ayers,  a  very  docile  man, 
and  consumptive  and  sick  and  feeble,  who,  the  witness  stales,  was 
neglected  by  Dr.  Dutton  and  refused  medical  treatment,  and  soon 
after  died.  Also,  David  Smith,  about  twenty-six  years  of  age,  a 
patient  who  was  very  bad  and  crazy.  One  day  witness  heard  a 
loud  noise  in  the  ward  where  Smith  was,  and  looking  into  the 
ward  he  saw  the  attendant,  William  Roy,  jamming  his  head 
against  the  ceiling.  Smith  made  no  resistance,  but  his  nose  bled 
and  his  eye  was  black.  Also  a  patient  by  the  name  of  Creighton, 
who  was  a  small  Irishman  about  twenty-five  years. old.  Witness 
one  day  saw  him  on  a  bench,  and  he  was  wholly  speechless — 
could  not  move  his  head;  was  swollen  and  was  badly  bruised. 
Akers,  the  attendant,  told  witness  that  the  patient  was  a  bad  man, 
and  they  had  a  hell  of  a  time  w  th  him.  Witness  that  night 
helped  the  patient  to  bed  on  the  floor,  and  the  next  night  he  died. 
Wimess  says  that  he  did  not  know  of  any  medical  attendance  or 
medicines  furnished  him,  and  he  should  have  probably  known  it 
if  they  had.  Witness  assisted  in  laying  out  the  patient,  whose 
head  and  face  were  very  much  swollen  ;  was  black  under  the 
eyes  and  on  the  cheek  bones;  there  were  bruises  about  his  arms 
and  shoulders  and  other  parts  of  his  body,  and  had  a  wound  on 
the  face.  The  patients  informed  witness  that  a  few  days  before 
this,  James  Akers,  Thomas  Kearney,  John  Doan,  (supervisor,) 
John  Roy  and  William  Roy,  (employes  of  the  institution,)  had 
beat  the  patient. 

Another  case  was  a  wild  young  patient  by  the  name  of  Veach, 
who  escaped ;  was  retaken,  and  on  arriving  at  the  hospital, 


45 


knocked  Mr.  Supervisor  Doan  down  (Mr.  Doan  was  about  twenty- 
one  years  old  ;  had  onljr  six  months  experience  in  the  treatment 
of  the  insane,  and  yet  was  made  supervisor  over  four  wards,  con¬ 
taining  over  a  hundred  patients,  and  was  a  short  time  before 
introduced  to  the  institution  by  Ebenezer  Jones,  the  farm  steward 
of  the  institution,  who  received  a  letter  of  introduction  from 
Daniel  M.  Jones,  of  Wisconsin,  who  married  Mr.  Supervisor 
Doan’s  sister,)  with  a  btick  in  again  making  his  escape.  On 
being  taken  he  was  handcuffed ;  his  feet  shackled  ;  nut  in  a  crib 
and  put  up  in  one  of  the  bed  looms  of  the  third  ward,  where  he 
was  kept  about  three  months.  The  crib  was  made  of  strips  of 
plank  about  three  and  a  half  inches  wide  and  two  and  a  half 
inches  apart,  and  was  about  two  feet  high,  live  and  a  halt  feet 
long,  and  two  and  a  half  feet  wide.  The  witness  says  the  patient 
could  not  be  in  any  other  position  in  the  crib  but  on  his  back ; 
that  there  was  some  bedding  in  the  crib,  and  he  thinks,  a  pillow 
under  his  head. 

This  witness  says  he  had  difficulty  with  Akers  and  Doan  about 
their  abusing  the  patients  cruelly,  and  he  supposes  he  was  dis¬ 
charged  on  that  account.  When  enquired  of  by  Dr.  McFarland 
if  he  had  not  been  taking  liquor  the  evening  of  the  difficulty  with 
Doan  and  Akers,  he  said  he  had  not;  that  he  was  not  in  the  habit 
of  drinking  liquor,  and  resented  any  such  imputation  ;  that  he 
was  sometimes,  (by  permission,)  absent  Saturday  evenings  at  the 
choir  meetings,  Mnd  on  Sunday  and  Wednesday  evenings  at  the 
prayer  meetings ;  and  that  his  character  was  established  and  well 
known  in  the  community. 

John  C.  Edmundson,  aged  thirty-five  years,  was  assistant  engi¬ 
neer  in  hospital  from  April,  1861,  to  October  2d,  1865;  testified 
that  before  he  had  been  there  a  week  he  saw  a  patient  knocked 
down  by  Joseph  Tinker,  an  attendant,  with  a  stick,  because  he 
absent-mindedly  picked  a  thread  out  of  his  coat.  Witness  pro¬ 
posed  to  report  the  case  to  Dr  McFarland,  but  Eastman,  the  prin¬ 
cipal  engineer,  who  had  been  there  three  years,  told  witness  he 
had  better  not  report  it  if  he  wanted  to  stay  in  the  institution. 
The  patient  on  being  knocked  down  seemed  perfectly  dead ;  was 
not  able  to  get  up  ;  had  no  government  over  himself,  and  was 
taken  away  and  put  in  the  screen  room.  v 

The  next  case  mentioned  by  this  witness  was  George  Richards, 
a  patient  of  Jacksonville,  who  was  kept  in  the  screen  room  entirely 


46 


naked,  in  the  cold  winter  ;  and  when  witness  came  to  work  in  the 
morning,  to  raise  steam,  at  one,  two  or  three  o’clock,  patient  would 
beg  tor  warmth.  It  was  about  fifty  feet  from  screen  room  to  bath¬ 
tub,  and  the  attendants  would  take  the  patient  by  the  heels  and 
drag  him  over  the  floor.  One  day,  as  they  were  about  to  bathe 
this  patient,  witness  says,  they  had  drawn  the  tub  full  of  hot  water 
and  had  him  up  in  their  arms  ready  to  plunge  him  in  the  tub, 
when  another  patient,  by  the  name  of  Cooper,  jumped  in  and 
saved  him.  Witness  says  this  patient  was  kept  in  the  screen  room 
the  most  of  the  winter  of  1863-4  ;  that  the  room  had  nothing  in 
it,  except  sometime  a  little  straw,  a  straw  tick  or  blanket,  which 
he  would  tear  up  and  wrap  around  him  for  warmth.  This  patient 
died  the  summer  or  fall  after  this  confinement. 

Mr.  ITaitt  of  Chicago,  was  also  kept  in  a  screen  room  almost 

constantly,  and  beat  and  bruised  until  his  limbs  were  swollen. 

He  was  jerked  and  jammed  until  his  legs  were  almost  a  perfect 

jelly.  He  went  home  and  came  back.  Witness  heard  him  speak 

very  kindly  of  Mrs.  McFarland  for  doctoring  his  limbs  after  they 

were  bruised.  The  two  attendants  in  the  ward  who  abused  this 

patient  were  Germans.  Patient  complained  that  these  attendants 

would  not  give  him  anything ;  and  if  he  asked  for  anything  they 

would  beat  and  kick  him  ;  and  witness  has  given  him  water,  put 

through  the  window.  When  patient  left  the  institution  the  second 

time,  he  said,  if  he  ever  came  across  the  attendant  who  abused 

him  so,  he  would  kill  him,  if  they  hung  him  for  it.  The  witness 

% 

gave  the  names  of  the  German  attendants  who  abused  the  patients, 
as  Pepenbring  and  Smultz,  and  said  they  both  resided  in  Jack¬ 
sonville. 

This  witness  said  that  he  did  not  believe  Dr.  McFarland 
approved  of  these  abuses,  and  that  the  reason  he  did  not  report 
them  was  that  he  was  afraid  if  he  did  he  would  lose  his  place. 
When  he  talked  with  the  Doctor  about  business,  he  got  a  very 
short  answer,  or  a  nod  of  the  head  ;  and  he  came  to  the  conclu¬ 
sion  there  was  not  much  satisfaction.  He  left  the  institution 
because  he  got  tired  of  it — requested  to  be  relieved  several  months 
before  he  left,  but  the  Doctor  requested  him  to  stay. 

Mrs.  Mary  Cassell  is  24  years  of  age,  and  has  lived  in  Jackson¬ 
ville  8  years;  was  employed  in  hospital  from  April,  1860,  to  May, 
1861,  as  assistant  matron,  and  filled  the  place  now  called  super¬ 
visor.  Does  not  personally  know  of  any  case  of  abuse  which  she 


47 


saw  administered.  Remembers  the  case  of  Mrs.  Farenside,  a 
patient  who  appeared  one  morning  at  the  breakfast  table  in  5th 
ward  (the  worst),  after  having  been  removed  from  the  7th  (the 
best),  with  a  black  eye.  Inquired  the  cause,  and  patient  and 
Elizabeth  Bonah  said  that  Dr.  McFarland  struck  her.  One  eye 
was  black,  and  one  side  of  her  face  was  very  much  bruised  and 
blacked  for  several  days.  After  these  bruises  were  inflicted,  the 
patient  was  taken  from  the  best  ward  (the  7th)  to  the  new  5th, 
which  was  unoccupied,  and  confined  in  a  room  by  herself,  hfever 
knew  the  patient  to  be  boisterous,  and  think  if  she  had  been  un¬ 
manageable  she  would  not  have  been  in  the  best  ward.  Patient 
and  Elizabeth  Bonah  both  told  witness  that  Dr.  McFarland  kicked 
her. 

Witness  then  test'ffed  that  she  thought  the  patients  ought  to  be 
more  kndly  treated  generally  ;  that  many  times,  when  they  were 
sick  and  feeble,  they  were  prevented  from  taking  proper  rest  du¬ 
ring  the  day  on  their  beds — it  was  the  practice  of  the  house  not 
to  allow  them  to  lie  down  during  the  day-time,  and  the  idea 
advanced  was  that  the  patients  did  not  know  when  they  needed 
rest — that  they  were  inclined  to  lie  down  more  than  was  good  for 
them  ;  and  it  was  a  most  universal  complaint  in  the  female  wards, 
on  the  part  of  those  who  were  too  feeble  and  weak  to  sit  up,  that 
they  were  not  allowed  to  lie  down  in  the  day-time — remembered 
one  particular  case  where  the  patient  was  ill  and  wanted  to  lie 
down,  and  her  attendant,  Miss  Eagle,  said  no,  the  Doctor  did  not 
allow  it,  and  the  face  of  the  patient,  witness  well  remembered. 

These  eight  witnesses,  in  their  testimony  specially  above  referred 
to,  have  described  particular  and  atrocious  abuses,  by  attendants, 
to  over  twenty  different  patients,  whose  names  are  given  ;  and 
the  most  of  the  cases  are  mentioned  by  them  with  circumstantial 
minuteness.  The  names  of  eighteen  different  attendants  are 
mentioned  by  them  as  being  engaged  in  these  cruelties.  The 
most  of  them  are  of  comparatively  recent  date ;  and  they  are 
within  the  recollection  of  witnesses  now  living  and  accessible. 

mrs.  Packard’s  case. 

The  committee  would  not  here  specially  refer  to  the  testimony 
of  any  other  witness  concerning  the  abuse  of  patients  by  attend¬ 
ants;  but,  as  the  name  of  Mrs.  Packard  has  become  very  familiar 
to  the  public  through  her  published  letters  and  personal  efforts  to 


42 


secure  a  change  in  the  laws  of  our  State,  in  relation  to  the  trial  of 
patients  alleged  to  he  insane,  before  their  commital  to  the  hospital, 
it  seems  proper  that  her  case  should  be  here  noticed.  It  seems 
to  be  very  generally  supposed  that  these  charges  of  abuse  rest 
principally  upon  her  testimony  ;  and,  hence,  the  question  of  her 
sanity  or  insanity  is  supposed  to  be  of  vital  importance  in  this 
investigation.  Not  so;  as  a  careful  examination  of  her  evidence 
will  show  that  she  has  particularly  mentioned  but  a  few  such  cases  ; 
and,  therefore,  the  charges  of  this  character  might  stand  or  fall,  so 
far  as  this  investigation  is  concerned,  without  reference  to  her 
testimony.  Her  connection  with  the  general  purposes  of  the 
investigation,  however,  and  other  matters  contained  in  and  relating 
to  her  testimony,  does,  in  the  opinion  of  the  committee,  render  it 
proper  that  her  testimony,  and  relations  to  the  hospital  and  its 
cfhcers,  should  be  here  fairly  stated. 

Mrs.  Packard  is  a  lady  fifty  years  of  age ;  is  the  wife  of  a 
clergyman;  and  prior  to  her  being  committed  to  the  hospital  had 
resided  with  her  husband  for  some  time,  at  Mantino,  Kankakee 
county,  in  this  State.  She  is  a  lady  of  very  considerable  culture 
and  of  decided  ability — was  admitted  to  the  hospital  on  the  appli¬ 
cation  of  her  husband,  June  18,  I860,  and  was  discharged  by 
order  of  the  trustees,  June  18,  1863,  as  incurable,  or  not  recov¬ 
ered.  She  was  admitted  without  a  trial  of  the  question  of  her 
insanity,  under  the  law  of  185 1 --re  enacted  in  1853,  heretofore 
referred  to.  She  states  in  her  evidence  that  the  charge  of  insanity 
was  based  wholly  upon  a  change  in  her  religious  views,  from  the 
Calvanistic  to  the  more  modern  and  more  liberal  views,  as  taught 
by  Rev.  Henry  Ward  Beecher.  She  su3rs  that  when  she  was 
eighteen  years  old  she  had  an  attack  of  brain  fever,  and  was  very 
much  reduced  by  bleeding  and  medicines,  and  was  out  of  her 
head  for  about  five  weeks,  until  the  blood  had  time  to  form  and 
give  her  strength  ;  and  insists  that  during  her  entire  stay  in  the 
hospital  she  was  entirely  sane ;  and  that  her  incarceration  there 
was  an  outrage  upon  her  rights  and  licerties,  and  the  law  (since 
repealed)  which  permitted  her  husband  to  place  her  there,  with¬ 
out  a  trial,  was  a  disgrace  to  the  State.  She  says  that  for  the  first 
four  months  she  was  treated  with  respect  and  kindness,  but  at  the 
expiration  of  that  time,  with  no  change  in  her  deportment,  and 
on  account  of  having  presented  Dr.  McFarland  with  a  written 
reproof  for  his  abuse  of  his  patients,  she  was  removed  from  the 


49 


best  ward  to  one  of  the  worst  wards — the  eighth,  where  the  most 
dangerous  patients  were  confined,  and  where,  for  two  years  and 
eight  months,  and  until  she  was  discharged,  she  was  kept — sub¬ 
jected  to  the  most  constant  surveillance,  (not  being  permitted 
during  the  whole  time  to  go  out  of  doors,)  annoyed  and  abused  by 
both  attendants  and  patients.  The  last  eight  months,  however, 
she  says  she  spent  pleasantly,  on  account  of  some  of  the  most 
noisy  and  boisterous  patients  being  exchanged  for  a  more  quiet 
class,  and  because  when  she  saw  the  commencement  of  difficulties 
she  could  go  to  the  Doctor,  and  have  them  stopped. 

The  sufferings  which  this  lady  endured,  and  the  scenes  through 
which,  according  to  her  statement,  she  passed  for  two  years  after 
her  transfer  to  the  eighth  ward,  are  almost  beyond  comprehension 
and  belief.  She  says  the  attendants  were  instructed  to  treat  her 
just  as  they  did  the  maniacs  ;  that  she  was  compelled  to  sleep  in  a 
dormitory  with  from  three  to  six  crazy  patients,  where  her  life 
was  exposed  both  night  and  day,  with  no  room  of  her  own  to  flee 
to  for  safety  from  their  insane  fights  and  dangerous  attacks  ;  that 
she  had  been  dragged  around  this  ward  by  the  hair  of  her  head  by 
the  maniacs — had  received  blows  from  them  that  had  almost 
killed  her ;  that  her  seat  at  the  table  was  by  the  side  of  a  Mrs. 
Triplet — one  of  the  most  dangerous  and  violent  patients  in  the 
ward,  who  frequently  threatened  to  kill  her  when  she  went  to  the 
table  ;  that  she  had  to  dodge  the  knives  and  forks,  and  tumblers 
and  chairs  which  have  been  hurled  at  her,  to  avoid  some  fatal 
blow  ;  and  that  she  had  begged  and  besought  Dr.  McFarland  to 
remove  her  to  some  place  of  safty,  only  to  see  him  turn  speechless 
away  from  her. 

Mrs.  Packard  mentions  the  abuse  of  a  Miss  Rollins  by  her 
attendant,  Mrs.  DeLeHay,  by  choking  and  wounding  her  throat ; 
another  case  of  a  lady-like,  quiet  and  submissive  patient,  about 
sixty  years  old,  who  was  punished  frequently,  (for  an  unavoidable 
offense,)  by  a  plunge-bath,  until  the  patient  said  they  nearly 
killed  her,  and  only  wished  they  had  quite,  for  there  was  no  escape 
for  her  from  that  horrible  punishment ;  also  of  a  Mrs.  Goldsby, 
who  had  fainting-fits,  and  was  not  treated  medically  by  the  Doc¬ 
tor,  and  who  one  night  fell  from  her  bed  on  the  floor  and  broke 
her  collar-bone,  and  received  for  several  days  no  treatment  from 
the  Doctor,  although  he  was  notified  of  it. 

7— 


» 


50 


Such  is  a  part  of  the  graphic  description  given  by  this  witness 
of  scenes  which  she  swears  she  witnessed — and  of  her  own  suffer¬ 
ings,  and  that  of  others.  \ 

Mrs.  Packard  says  she  was  finally  discharged,  under  the  follow¬ 
ing  circumstances,  and  about  which  there  seems  to  be  no  contro¬ 
versy  :  About  eight  months  before  she  was  discharged  she  was 
brought  before  the  trustees,  and  informed  that  her  husband,  who 
was  present,  had  been  heard  by  them  concerning  her  detention, 
and  that  she  could  be  heard  also.  She  then  read  a  paper  to  the 
trustees,  which  she  had  prepared,  entitled  “  Calvinism  and  Chris¬ 
tianity  Compared.”  She  also  read  another  paper,  which  severely 
reflected  upon  Dr.  McFarland  and  her  husband  for  confining  her 
in  the  hospital ;  and  after  answering  questions  put  to  her  by  the 
trustees,  the  Doctor  and  her  husband  withdrew,  and  she  was 
informed  by  the  chairman  that  they  would  do  for  her  anything 
she  wished.  She  said  she  wanted  her  liberty,  and  protection  in 
that  liberty.  They  informed  her  that  they  thought  it  would  be 
no  use  for  her  to  go  to  her  husband,  but  she  could  go  to  Mantino, 
or  might  go  to  her  father  in  Massachusetts,  and  they  would  pay 
her  expenses  there.  She  told  them  that  as  she  was  still  Mr. 
Packard’s  wife  there  was  no  use  in  accepting  their  offer,  for  as 
soon  as  she  was  outside  the  walls  he  had  the  power  and  would  use 
it  to  imprison  her  again.  They  then  told  her  they  did  not  know 
what  to  advise  her,  and  would  refer  the  whole  matter  to  the  Doctor 
and  her  to  settle.  She  therefore  declined  to  go,  but  requested  a 
key  or  pass,  and  to  be  allowed  to  remain  as  a  boarder.  This  was 
refused  her,  and  she  went  back  to  her  ward. 

About  six  weeks  before  she  went  away,  her  son  came  to  the 
hospital,  and  the  Doctor  informed  her  she  could  go.  She  went 
down  town  with  her  son,  who  informed  her  that  he  had  made 
arrangements  with  her  husband  for  her  liberation,  provided  he, 
the  son,  would  support  her.  She  was  then  writing  a  book,  and 
requested  her  son  to  make  arrangements  for  her  remaining  at  the 
hospital  as  a  boarder  for  about  six  weeks,  until  she  could  complete 
it,  after  which  she  thought  she  could  support  herself,  by  a  sale  of 
her  book.  She  returned  to  the  hospital  from  down  town,  and 
remained  there  about  six  weeks,  during  wThick  time  she  was  made 
comfortable,  and  her  room  furnished  with  a  carpet,  by  order  of  the 
Doctor.  At  the  end  of  six  weeks  she  received  an  order  of  the 
trustees,  from  Dr.  McFarland,  that  she  would  be  discharged  on  the 


51 


18th  of  June,  into  the  hands  of  her  husband.  On  that  day  her 
husband  came  for  her,  and  she  protested  against  going  with  him, 
with  her  liberty  still  exposed.  The  order  of  discharge  was  exe¬ 
cuted  by  Dr.  Tenny,  Assistant  Physician,  (Dr.  McFarland  being 
absent)  and  the  porters  of  the  hospital  took  her  from  the  hospital, 
against  her  will,  to  the  omnibus,  and  there  delivered  her  to  her 
husband. 

This  witness  was  subjected  to  a  most  searching  cross-examination, 
and  re-examination  with  the  view  not  only  of  testing  the  accuracy  of 
her  memory,  but  the  soundness  of  her  mind,  and  the  views  she  enter¬ 
tained  on  religious  subjects;  and  it  is  but  the  truth  to  say  that  she  sus¬ 
tained  herself  with  great  ability  in  all  respects,  although  she  may 
entertain  views  upon  theological  topics  about  which  there  are  various 
controversies.  But  there  was  one  unfortunate  matter,  which  came 
out  on  the  cross-examination,  which  the  committee  feel  to  be  their 
duty  to  refer  to  here  particularly.  It  is  unfortunate  because  its 
presentation  involves  a  flagrant  violation  of  the  spirit  of  the  regu¬ 
lations  of  the  hospital,  and  of  good  faith;  and  because,  unexplained 
or,not  fully  understood,  it  reflects  seriously  upon  the  witness,  if 
sane  at  the  time,  and  perhaps  even  then  is  justly  liable  to  be 
understood  in  a  different  sense  from  that  the  witness  swears  it  was 
intended. 

It  appears  already  that  the  witness,  during  her  stay  in  the  hos¬ 
pital,  was  engaged  in  writing  a  book.  She  swears  that  she  com¬ 
menced  writing  it  in  September,  1862,  and  it  is  evident  she  was 
very  anxious  about  completing  it,  as  by  its  publication  she  hoped 
to  be  able  to  support  herself  when  she  might  be  discharged  from 
the  hospital.  Eight  months  before  her  discharge,  or  about  Octo¬ 
ber,  1862,  she  had  the  interview  with  the  trustees,  referred  to, 
when  she  refused  their  proffered  discharge  because  of  her  fear  of 
being  again  arrested  by  her  husband  ;  and  she  says  after  that  time 
she  was  well  treated,  and  felt  she  had  a  superintendent  who  would 
listen  to  her  when  she  asked  favors  for  the  patients ;  and  that  he 
had  promised  to  publish  her  book  when  completed,  and  that  on  the 
fulfillment  of  that  promise  “  hung  all  and  every  hope  of  her  per¬ 
sonal  liberty.”  About  the  19th  of  January,  1863,  she  says  he  re¬ 
fused  to  publish  the  book,  and  almost  in  a  state  of  desperation 
she  made  an  appeal  to  the  Doctor,  which  is  contained  in  her  letter 
of  that  date,  and  found  on  pages  94,  95  and  96  of  the  journal  of 
the  committee.  At  first  this  letter  appeared  to  the  committee  to 


52 


be  a  brazen  offer  of  marriage  by  a  married  lady  to  a  married  man  ; 
and  was  either  the  production  of  a  diseased  and  disordered  intel¬ 
lect,  or  a  degrading  invitation  or  proposal  of  illicit  intercourse. 
Whether  it  be  either,  or  not,  it  is  but  just  to  the  witness  that  her 
full  explanation,  found  on  pages  139,  140,  141,  142  and  143,  and 
her  answers  to  questions  of  the  committee,  should  be  read  and 
considered  together.  To  say  the  least,  it  seems  to  the  committee 
an  indiscreet  and  foolish  letter — open  to  severe  criticisms,  if  not 
condemnation — written,  it  is  true,  under  circumstances  of  over¬ 
whelming  grief — protesting,  it  is  true,  that  she  must  not  love  his 
person  so  long  as  that  love  was  claimed  by  his  wife — protesting,  it 
is  true,  that  it  was  as  a  true  woman  she  addressed  him — yet  men¬ 
tioning  him  as  one  she  had  chosen  as  her  protector  and  f  uture 
hitsband ,  and  finally  closing  by  speaking  of  her  son,  who  would 
be  of  age  in  a  short  time,  and  with  whom  she  desired  to  go  as  her 
protector,  and  take  charge  of  her  children.  This  letter,  especially, 
since  her  present  avowal  of  it  as  containing  nothing  improper, 
seems  a  curious  medley  ;  and  although  from  the  appearance  of  the 
witness — her  character  as  a  lady,  and  the  entire  absence  of'  any 
intimation  from  any  source  against  her  integrity — the  committee 
have  no  doubt  that  she  is  a  virtuous  lady,  still  the  letter  is  an 
unfortunate  and  foolish  letter. 

It  seems  to  the  committee  that  upon  one  point  in  connection 
with  this  letter  there  can  be  no  doubt,  and  that  is  as  to  the  culpa¬ 
ble  impropriety  of  its  introduction  in  evidence.  It  was  not  neces¬ 
sary  to  prove  or  disprove  any  charge  made  against  the  manage¬ 
ment  of  the  hospital.  Mrs.  Packard  was  not  on  trial  as  to  her 
sanity ;  and  if  she  were,  it  can  scarcely  be  possible  that  the  trus¬ 
tee  who  requested  Dr.  McFarland  to  produce  the  letter,  would 
have  considered  this  letter,  written  in  1863,  as  sufficient  evidence 
upon  that  point  to  establish  her  insanity — especially  after  the 
prompt  and  intelligent  manner  in  which  she  had  previously  testi¬ 
fied.  Her  character  as  a  virtuous  lady  was  not  involved,  for  no 
one  had  or  has  intimated  to  the  committee  there  was  any  doubt 
about  that,  (unless  the  letter  be  deemed  evidence  to  the  contrary) 
and  even  if  that  matter  had  been  in  doubt,  the  witness  had  not 
charged  upon  Dr.  McFarland  any  attempt  at  improper  liberties 
with  her,  and  therefore  this  letter  could  not  defend  him  by  show¬ 
ing  any  willingness  on  her  part  to  receive  improper  attentions  from 
him  of  that  character  In  either  view  of  the  case,  therefore,  the 


53 


committee  cannot  but  regard  the  production  of  this  letter  as  an 
unnecessary  and  wanton  attack  upon  a  defenseless  lady,  because 
she  had  become  identified  with  complaints  made  against  what  she 
regarded  as  unjust  laws,  then  in  force,  and  of  which  she  claimed 
she  had  been  a  victim ;  and  had  made  complaint  against  the  man¬ 
agement  of  the  hospital,  under  the  charge  of  one  she  addressed 
under  the  sacred  seal  of  confidence  in  him  as  a  gentleman,  and 
under  a  most  solemn  injunction  of  secrecy,  because  a  construction, 
as  she  says,  might  be  put  upon  it  prejudicial  to  her  character  as  a 
virtuous  lady. 

And,  besides,  a  part  of  section  4,  chapter  10,  of  the  printed 
regulations  of  the  hospital,  reads  as  follows: 

“  Persons  employed  at  this  institution  will  remember  that  their 
duties  are  peculiar  and  confidential ;  that  there  is  an  obvious  im¬ 
propriety  in  disclosing  the  names,  peculiarities,  or  acts  of  its  in¬ 
mates.  "x'  *  *  *x*  They  should  not  forget  that  the  most  cruel 

wounds  may,  by  imprudent  disclosures,  be  inflicted  on  those  whose 
conduct  and  language,  during  their  misfortune,  should  be  covered 
with  the  veil  of  the  deepest  secrecy.”  *  *  *x* 

It  is  true  that  this  part  of  the  regulations  provides  for  the  gov¬ 
ernment  of  £c  attendants  and  assistants,”  but  ought  not  the  princi¬ 
ple  to  apply  to  the  officers  as  well  ? 

Of  course,  they  would  be  compelled,  if  required,  to  testify  in 
courts;  but  nothing  but  a  pressing  necessity  to  justly  defend 
themselves,  or  promote  the  public  interest  on  questions  directly  in 
issue,  would  authorize  a  departure  from  the  manifest  propriety  of 
this  part  of  the  regulations. 

It  is  apparent  to  the  committee  that  the  production  of  this  letter 
was  not  compulsory  on  the  part  of  the  superintendent,  but  that  it 
was  a  willing  and  voluntary  service.  As  especially  applicable  to 
him,  the  committee  will  close  this  part  of  their  report  by  inserting 
here  an  extract  from  the  last  annual  report  of  the  superintendent, 
containing  an  elaborate  lecture  to  the  Legislature  for  repealing,  in 
the  law  of  1865,  the  law  of  1851-3,  authorizing  husbands  and 
guardians  to  commit  their  wives  and  wards  to  the  hospital  without 
a  jury  trial,  upon  the  opinion  of  the  superintendent  that  they  were 
insane.  On  page  39  the  superintendent  says: 

“  When  it  is  reflected,  by  any  thinking  person,  in  how  vast  a 
majority  of  instances  it  must  be  that  those  sent  here  are  sustain¬ 
ing  the  tender  relations  of  brothers,  sisters,  sons,  daughters, 


% 


54 


parents,  husbands  and  wives  of  those  who,  in  the  nature  of  the 
case,  appear  as  quasi  prosecutors — what  antagonisms  of  the  most 
painful  and  lasting  kind  are  wantonly  engendered — what  viola¬ 
tions  of  delicacy,  and  often  of  decency — what  outrages  upon  men¬ 
tal  and  physical  suffering — must  be  the  result.  While  this  enact¬ 
ment  exists,  it  will  be  agreed  that  no  terms  of  reprobation  are  too 
strong  to  be  applied  to  it.” 

If  such  language  can  with  any  propriety  be  used  to  describe 
the  “  violation  of  delicacy,  and  often  of  decency,”  resulting  from 
producing  before  a  jury  in  open  court  the  peculiarities  and  habits 
of  the  person  alleged  to  be  insane,  what  shamelessness,  then, 
must  there  be  in  a  disclosure  for  publication  to  the  whole  country 
of  the  peculiarities  and  habits  of  a  person  actually  confined  in  a 
hospital  for  the  insane,  unless  such  disclosure  is  made  absolutely 
necessary  for  the  defense  of  individual  rights,  or  the  promotion  of 
public  justice. 

Nor  did  the  effort  to  destroy  the  testimony  of  this  witness  end 
here.  Failing  to  discover  satisfactory  proof  of  insanity  in  her 
manner,  or  facts  sworn  to  by  her,  it  was  undertaken  to  be  shown 
that  her  views  on  certain  religious  and  metaphysical  subjects,  as 
found  in  her  book,  could  not  be  entertained  by  a  sane  person. 
Her  book  was  produced,  and  three  passages  were  referred  to,  to- 
wit: 

On  page  51  of  her  book,  under  the  head  of  “  transmigration  of 
souls,”  she  says :  “  I  fully  believe  in  this  doctrine  or  truth,  be¬ 

cause  it  is  a  demonstrable  fact,  that  souls  do  inhabit  different 
bodies,  at  different  periods  of  their  existence,  as  really  as  vegeta¬ 
ble  and  animal  life  exist  in  different  forms  or  bodies.” 

In  relation  to  this  passage,  she  says,  in  her  testimony,  page  9S 
of  the  journal  of  the  committee :  “  I  believe  we  do ;  that  life  is 

one  continued  succession  of  existences ;  and  we  only  enjoy  a  part 
of  it  in  this  life — as  vegetable  and  animal  life  are  perpetuated  in 
different  forms — the  butterfly  and  the  chrysalis  is  the  same  life,  al¬ 
though  in  different  forms.  So,  on  the  principle  of  analogy,  I 
infer  that  the  human  life  exists  in  different  forms.” 

On  page  52  of  her  book  she  says :  “  I  have  no  more  doubt  but 

that  Shakspeare  and  AVashington,  and  1  don’t  know  how  many 
more  of  earth’s  noblest  thinkers,  have  dictated  portions  of  my 
book,  than  I  have  that  my  own  mind  is  used  as  their  medium  of 
bought.  It  would  he  impious  in  me  to  boast  of  having  written 


my  book,  unaided  by  the  most  superior  minds  of  the  universe.  Its 
contents  designate  its  heavenly  origin.” 

In  answer  to  the  question  as  to  whether  she  had  any  special  aid 
from  other  minds  in  writing  this  book,  she  says,  in  relation  to  the 
last  extract :  “  I  regard  God  as  the  author  of  all  truth.  I  don’t 

make  the  truth  ;  I  only  report  it — am  only  the  medium  of  it — 
simply  tell  it.  In  that  sense  I  am  God’s  medium.  I  believe  the 
devil  is  the  author  of  all  falsehood  or  lies  ;  and  when  I  speak  a 
lie,  I  am  the  devil’s  medium.” 

On  page  66  of  her  book,  she  says :  Mrs.  Packard  is  the  writing 
medium  of  this  book.  Dr.  McFarland  is  her  chosen  scholastic 
critic.  But  God,  alone,  is  the  dictator  of  the  contents  of  the  book 
—  my  book — God’s  book — our  book.” 

In  her  testimony— page  97 — in  answer  to  the  question  of 
whether  she  had  any  special  aid  from  other  minds  in  writing 
this  book,  she  says :  “  I  don’t  know  that  I  had.  I  have  read  va¬ 

rious  books :  and  ideas  which  I  received  from  this  and  other 

* 

sources  have  quickened  into  thought,  and  I  reduced  them  into 
form.  I  believe  that  mind  communicates  with  mind,  whether  in 
the  body  or  out  of  the  body.  I  get  ideas  from  the  writings  of 
Jesus  Christ,  although  he  is  not  in  the  body.” 

The  committee  express  no  opinion  upon  the  soundness  or  ortho¬ 
doxy  of  the  opinions  contained  in  these  extracts  from  the  book 
referred  to,  for  they  do  not  consider  that  question  necessarily  in¬ 
volved  in  their  examination  ;  yet  the  prompt  and  plausible  manner 
in  which  her  views  were  defended  or  explained,  while  on  the  stand, 
tended  to  increase  the  probability  of  her  sanity,  and  afforded  a 
striking  instance  of  the  danger  of  pronouncing  a  person  insane 
simply  because  of  their  belief  upon  such  subjects. 

INSANE  WITNESSES. 

Insane  persons  are  excluded  as  witnesses  in  courts,  upon  the 
ground  of  deficient  understanding ,  and  as  witnesses  are  required 
to  take  upon  themselves  an  oath  to  speak  the  truth ;  and  as  an 
oath  is  an  outward  pledge,  given  by  the  person  taking  it  that  his 
attestation  or  promise  is  made  under  an  immediate  sense  of  his 
responsibility  to  God ;  and  the  purpose  of  the  law  being  to  lay 
hold  on  the  conscience  of  the  witness  by  this  religious  solemnity  ; 
it  follows,  that  persons  incapable  of  understanding  the  nature  and 
obligations  of  an  oath  ought  not  to  be  admitted  as  witnesses,  be- 


56 


cause  they  would  then  testify  without  its  obligations  and  sanctions, 
and  their  testimony,  for  the  want  of  understanding ,  would  be 
found  more  likely  than  otherwise  to  mislead  courts  and  juries. 
And  it  makes  no  difference  whether  this  defect  of  understanding 
be  temporary  and  curable,  or  permanent — whether  the  party  be 
hopelessly  an  idiot  or  maniac,  or  only  occasionally  insane — as  a 
lunatic,  while  the  deficiency  of  understanding  exists,  the  person 
is  not  capable  to  be  sworn  as  a  witness.  But  if  the  cause  be  tem¬ 
porary,  and  a  lucid  interval  should  occur,  or  a  cure  be  effected, 
the  competency  is  restored.  And  this  deficiency  of  understanding 
being  once  shown  to  exist,  the  presumption  of  law  is,  that  it  con¬ 
tinues  until  the  contrary  is  proven.  Indeed,  the  presumption  of 
law  in  relation  to  this  subject  has  been,  and  is,  that  persons  deaf 
and  dumb  from  their  birth,  are  idiots ;  and  though  this  presump¬ 
tion  has  not  now  the  same  degree  of  force  which  was  formerly 
given  to  it — that  class  of  persons  being  found,  by  the  light  of 
modern  science,  to  be  much  more  intelligent  in  general,  and  sus¬ 
ceptible  of  far  higher  culture,  than  once  supposed — yet  still  the 
] (resumption  is  so  far  operative  as  to  devolve  the  burden  of  proof 
on  the  party  adducing  the  witnesses,  to  show  that  he  is  a  person 
of  sufficient  understanding. 

Having  these  principles  in  view,  which  are  declared  by  the 
courts  and  writers  upon  evidence  to  be  the  law,  the  committee 
examined  nine  witnesses — who  had  been  under  treatment  in  the 
hospital,  and  who  were  discharged  without  the  opinion  of  the 
superintendent  that  they  were  recovered,  or  without  preliminary 
testimony  of  other  witnesses,  before  they  were  sworn,  that  they 
had  recovered.  In  fact  the  committee  thought  it  not  unlikely 
that,  in  this  investigation,  it  might  be  proper  for  them  to  receive 
the  statements  of  patients  confessedly  insane,  in  the  hospital, 
touching  their  personal  usage — not,  however,  on  the  supposition 
that  what  they  might  say  would  be,  technically,  evidence  binding 
upon  the  officers  of  the  hospital — but  on  the  supposition  that  some 
light  might  be  thrown  on  the  probabilities  of  the  question  as  to 
whether  they  were  kindly  treated  or  abused  by  the  attendants  and 
ofiicers,  and  thus  lead  the  committee  to  seek  proper  evidence  else¬ 
where.  In  the  personal  inspection  of  the  hospital,  and  the  exami¬ 
nation  made  by  the  committee  and  Drs.  Johnson  and  Patterson, 
in  July  last,  several  general  inquiries  were  made  of  patients,  on 
this  subject,  but  no  answers  thereto  were  entered  as  testimony,  or 
considered  strictly  evidence  in  the  case. 


57 


The  nine  witnesses  thus  examined,  and  whose  testimony  is  sub¬ 
mitted  as  evidence,  are  Mr.  Searles.  Mrs.  Shedd,  Mrs  Packard, 
Mrs.  C  uninimt'iird.  Mrs.  Ole-on,  Mr.  Eastwood,  Mrs.  Menard, 
Isaac  White,  and  Marshal  B  Barr,  and  affidavit  of  Mr.  (Ju  thie. 
The  latter  is*  not  considered  by  committee.  And  although  the 
committee  confidently  believe  the  conclusions  at  which  they  have 
arrived  are  clearly  supported,  without  the  evidence  of  either  of 
them,  (that  of  at  least  four  of  them  was  comparatively  immate¬ 
rial,)  that,  in  point  of  intelligence,  character  and  credibility,  they 
are  as  worthy  of  belii  f  as  other  witne-ses,  upon  whose  testimony 
in  courts  the  property,  character,  liberty  and  lives  of  suitors  daily 
depend.  Without  reference  to  a  question  which  might  be  raised, 
as  to  whether,  under  the  statute  of  1851,  married  women,  commit¬ 
ted  to  the  hospital  without  any  sworn  testimony  or  judicial  inves¬ 
tigation  of  the  fact  of  their  sanity  or  insanity,  and  on  the  mere 
unsworn  opinion  of  the  superintendent  that  they  were  insane,  at 
the  time  of  admission  or  discharge,  is  such  a  determination  of  the 
fact  of  insanity  that  there  is  a  presumption  of  law  as  to  its  con¬ 
tinuance;  and  without  reference  to  their  mental  condition  at  the 
time  of  their  discharge,  the  committee  have  en  ire  confidence  in 
the  belief  that  all  these  witnesses  had  a  clear  understanding,  and 
comorehended,  when  examined,  the  obligations  of  the  oath  ad- 
ministered  to  them,  and  in  an  unusually  intelligent  manner  testi¬ 
fied  to  matters  within  their  recollection,  and  were  prudent  and 
entirely  honest,  and  testified  to  facts  as  they  believed  them  to  ex¬ 
ist.  With  one  or  two  unimportant  exceptions,  neither  of  them 
exhibited  any  appearance  of  a  disordered  intellect,  moral  obli¬ 
quity,  or  defective  memory  ;  and,  therefore,  to  reject  their  testi¬ 
mony,  appeared  to  the  committee  as  calculated  to  defeat  an  inves¬ 
tigation  after  the  truth,  and  possibly  subvert  the  ends  of  public 
justice.  In  this  point  of  view,  and  for  these  reasons,  their  testi¬ 
mony  has  been  accepted  and  reported  as  a  part  of  the  evidence. 

In  relation  to  the  reliance  to  be  placed  upon  testimony  of  wit¬ 
nesses  who  have  once  been  insane,  and  who  have  partially  or  fully 
recovered,  there  have  been  twenty  two  witnesses  examined.  In 
July  last  the  trustees  and  superintendent  proposed  to  the  commit¬ 
tee  to  join  in  a  commission,  to  take  the  testimony  of  non-resident 
medical  or  professional  experts  who  were,  or  had  been,  in  charge 
of  the  insane  in  different  states.  The  testimony  proposed  to  be 
thus  taken  was  upon  a  variety  of  subjects,  in  relation  to  the  treat* 
—8 


t 


58 

ji 

ment  of  the  insane,  suggested,  no  doubt,  by  the  testimony  of  wit¬ 
nesses  who  had  been  examined  by  the  committee.  The  proposi¬ 
tion  was  declined  by  the  committee,  on  the  ground  that  they  had 
‘  no  authority  to  join  in  such  commission,  hut  it  was  suggested  that 
if  the  testimony  of  such  witnesses  should  be  fairly  taken,  and, 
when  offered,  appear  to  be  relevant  to  any  questions  pending  be¬ 
fore  the  committee,  that  its  admissibility  might  he  favorably  con¬ 
sidered.  The  testimony  of  these  witnesses,  residing  in  various 
states,  was  therefore  taken  and  admitted,  and  is  reported  as  a  part 
of  the  evidence.  The  sixth  of  these  interrogatories  addressed  to 
them,  is  as  f.llows  : 

“  What  is  your  opinion  as  to  ihe  credit  due  to  the  statements  of 
insane  patients  partially  recovered  ;  and  what  to  the  statements  of 
patients  fully  recovered?” 

The  substance  of  the  answers  appears  to  be,  that  the  statements 
of  insane  persons  are  unreliable  by  reason  of  their  insanity;  that 
the  statements  of  those  partially  recovered,  especially  when  they 
speak  of  their  own  treatment,  or  of  things  which  occurred  during 
their  insanity,  are  to  be  taken  with  “  grains  of  allowance  but  the 
statements  of  those  who  are  fully  recovered  may  generally  be  be¬ 
lieved,  provided  they  are  honest  and  their  memory  not  defective. 
The  testimony  on  this  part  appears  to  be  very  clear  and  very  can¬ 
did,  and  undoubtedly  more  learned  and  better  reasons  are  assigned 
for  their  opinions  than  could  be  named  by  unprofessional  persons. 
Their  conclusions  are  so  very  reasonable  that  no  person  of  ordinary 
observation  can  fail  to  agree  with  them,  to  the  extent  named, 
although  it  might  be  doubted  whether  the  fact  that  a  person  who, 
after  his  discharge,  complains  of  his  treatment,  should  be  consid¬ 
ered  almost  a  presumption  that  he  had  not  fully  recovered,  as  is 
substantially  stated  by  some  of  these  witnesses. 

The  answer  of  John  Fonerden,  medical  superintendent  of  the 
Maryland  Hospital  for  the  Insane,  fully  expresses  the  view  of  the 
committee,  and  is  as  follows:  “The  credit  due  to  the  statements 
of  insane  patients,  partially  recovered,  and  of  those  fully  recovered, 
must  depend  upon  what  appears  to  be  the  trustworthiness  of  each 
individual  patient,  from  what  is  known  of  his  disposition.”  In 
other  wrnrds,  if  the  patient  is  trustworthy,  and  is  not  “  deficient  in 
understanding,”  he  may  be  relied  upon  as  a  witness,  which  is  pre¬ 
cisely  the  rule  applied  to  all  other  witnesses,  except  that  more  care 
and  discrimination  are  required  with  those  once  insane,  but  par- 


59 


tially  or  wholly  recovered,  to  test  the  understanding  and  determine 
whether  any  delusions  still  remain  in  the  mind  to  influence  the 
judgment. 

That  the  statements  of  insane  persons,  and  those  partially  or 
f»lly  recovered,  are  daily  taken  and  acted  upon  by  every  person 
having  the  charge  of  the  insane,  is  too  plain  to  admit  of  doubt. 
Else  how  could  they  know  their  wants,  or  punish  those  who  abuse 
them  ?  Frequently  only  in  this  way.  That  they  are  oftentimes 
unreliable — that  they  often  or  occasionally  complain  of  their  treat¬ 
ment  without  good  cause — that  they  sometimes  are  deceitful  and 
cunning,  and  lie,  and  are  ungrateful — at  most  proves  that  they  are 
human  ;  and  that,  by  reason  of  tlieir  mental  infirmity — their  dis¬ 
ordered  intellect — their  frail  memory. — they  are  less  entitled  to 
credit  than  sane  persons.  But  to  totally  reject  their  statements  as 
never  worthy  of  credit,  and  especially  in  an  investigation  of  this 
kind,  would  be  to  leave  them  not  only  defenseless,  but  a  prey  to 
every  brutal  lust  and  passion;  would  leave  such  wretches  as  some 
attendants,  whose  names  appear  so  frequently  in  the  testimony, 
to  go  unchallenged  and  un  whipped  of  justice — a  result  so  deplora¬ 
ble  as  to  undermine  and  break  up  every  hospital  and  asylum  for 
the  insane  in  the  country. 

The  evidence  of  these  experts  referred  to,  and  the  reasons  as¬ 
signed  by  them,  are  believed  to  be  in  harmony  with,  and  not  in 
opposition  to,  the  action  of  the  committee,  at  the  time  the  wit¬ 
nesses,  who  were  formerly  supposed  to  be  insane,  were  examined. 
Yet,  that  there  may  be  no  misunderstanding  upon  this,  the  com¬ 
mittee  would  here  repeat,  that,  in  their  judgment,  the  proof  of 
the  charges  of  abuse  of  patients  does  not  depend  upon  the  testi¬ 
mony  of  insane  witnesses,  or  of  those  who  have  fu  ly  or  partially 
recovered  from  insanity,  but  is  abundantly  established  by  other 
witnesses. 

\ 

CONTRADICTION  OF  WITNESSES. 

There  is  in  this  case,  as  in  almost  all  others  of  importance,  con¬ 
tradictory  evidence  ;  but  the  committee  are  of  the  opinion  that  it 
cannot  with  any  fairness  be  pretended  that  the  contradiction  of 
some  witnesses,  as  to  particular  facts  sworn  to  by  them  against ^the 
management  of  the  hospital,  is  sufficient  to  materially  weaken, 
much  less  destroy,  their  testimony — especially  as  throughout  the 
whole  case  there  is  a  corroboration  and  agreement  between  them, 


60 


upon  the  main  question  of  this  branch  of  the  inquiry,  entirely  in¬ 
consistent  with  a  tlibhonest  intention  on  their  part,  unless  it  be 
assumed  theie  is  a  general  conspiracy  among  them,  of  which  there 
is  not  a  particle  of  testimony. 

A  reference  to  a  few  of  the  more  important  instances  of  contra¬ 
diction  may  illustrate  this.  Edmundson,  who  was  an  important 
witness,  was  assistant  engineer  from  April,  Jb61.  to  October  2, 
1862,  and  test i ties  to  var  ous  instances  of  abuse,  lie  swore  t hat, 
about  a  week  after  be  went  there,  lie  saw  Tinker,  an  attendant, 
knock  a  patient  down  with  a  mop  stick,  without  any  provocation; 
that  he,  the  patient,  seemed  to  he  dead — not  able  t- »  get  up,  and 
was  soon  taken  to  the  screen-room;  and  that  be,  witness,  proposed 
to  Eastman,  the  engineer,  to  report  the  case  to  Dr.  McFarland; 
that  he  and  Eastman  had  conversation  ah  ut  the  matter,  an  1  East¬ 
man  advised  witness,  it*  he  wanted  to  retain  h  s  place,  be  had  bet¬ 
ter  not  report  Tinker ;  and  that  it.  was  understood  by  him,  witness, 
and  others,  that  such  reports  were  not  favorably  received,  etc. ; 
and  therefore  the  witness  did  not  report  this  and  other  cases  of 
abuse  which  he  witnessed,  to  the  superintendent.  To  impeach 
Edmondson,  and  show  the  improbability  of  bis  having  seen  these 
abuses,  because  he  did  not  report  them,  the  deposition  of  Eastman 
is  taken,  who  swears  that  lie  never  told  Edmundson,  in  substance, 
that  if  he  wanted  to  keep  bis  [dace  he  should  k<  ep  his  mouth  shut, 
and  that  reports  of  misconduct  and  abuse  would  not  be  tolerated. 
But  Eastman  does  not  deny,  nor  teas  fit  inquirt  d  of ,  whether  Tinker 
did  not  knock  the  'patient  down ,  as  testified  to  by  Edmundson ,  nor 
if  Edmundson  did  not  complain  to  him  of  this  brutality  of  Tinker , 
and  threaten  or  talk  or  propose  to  report  it  to  the  doctor,  Eastman 
may  or  may  not  have  remembered  telling  Edmundson  ;  Edmund- 
son  may  or  may  not  have  done  wrong  in  failing  to  report,  because 
lie  was  afraid  of  losing  bis  place  if  lie  did,  but  lie  is  not  to  be  dis¬ 
believed  on  the  strength  of  this  kind  of  contradiction,  especially 
as  he  is  corroborated  by  other  witnesses  in  this,  that  neither  by 
the  by-laws  or  the  understanding  of  others,  were  such  reports  re¬ 
quired  to  be  made  by  attendants  or  subordinate  employees  of  the 
institution. 

Again,  Edmundson  swears  that  upon  one  occasion  George 
Richards,  a  patient  who  had  been  kept  naked  in  the  screen  room 
in  the  cold  winter,  and  who  sometimes  begged  for  warmth  when 
witness  went  to  get  steam  up  at  two  or  three  o’clock  in  the  morn- 


61 


ing,  was  in  the  hands  of  patients  acting  under  the  direction  of  the 
attendants;  and  they  were  about  to  plunge  him  into  a  tub  of 
scalding  hot  water,  when  Richards  was  rescued  by  Cooper,  another 
patient ;  that  he  saw  this  through  an  open  window,  and  had  fre¬ 
quently  seen  Richards  in  the  screen  room  through  the  door,  before 
he  came  out  in  the  morning.  To  show  that  Edmundson,  from 
where  he  said  he  stood,  could  not  have  known  whether  the  water 
in  the  bath  tub — which  was  supplied  with  a  cold  and  hot  water 
faucet — was  scalding  hot,  Mr.  Lord,  the  present  engineer,  was 
produced  and  swore  that  from  the  outside  of  the  bath  room  to  the 
inside  of  the  bath  tub  was  about  six  feet,  and  thought  that  a  per¬ 
son  standing  on  the  outside  of  the  window  could  not  form  an  idea 
of  the  temperature  of  the  water  in  the  bath  tub  by  looking  at  it — 
that  it  did  not  come  in  there  boiling  hot.  Now,  while  Lord  testi¬ 
fies  what  may  be  true,  it  by  no  means  follows  that  Edmundson 
could  not  tell  by  the  steam  arising  from  the  water  as  it  was  dis¬ 
charged  from  the  faucet,  whether  it  was  hot  or  cold  water;  and 
Lord  does  not  pretend  that  Edmundson  could  not  have  seen  from 
which  faucet  the  water  was  discharged.  And  to  show  that 
Richards  could  not  have  suffered  from  cold  when  in  the  screen 
room  naked,  in  the  winter,  as  sworn  to  by  Edmundson,  Mr.  Lord 
was  enquired  of  concerning  the  manner  of  heatu  g  the  wards,  and 
testified  that  it  has  been  the  custom  to  keep  the  house  comfortable ; 
sometimes  necessary  to  keep  steam  on  all  night ;  and  in  cold 
weather,  when  the  heat  is  kept  on  all  the  night,  one  engineer 
must  be  on  duty  all  night ;  “  that  steam  is  usually  kept  on  until 
nine,  ten,  eleven,  or  twelve  o’clock.”  That  it  is  the  intention  to 
keep  the  building  comfortable,  is  no  doubt  true;  but  it  must  also 
be  true  that  making  allowances  for  a  change  of  weather  after 
steam  is  shut  off,  and  occasional  derangements  of  the  heating 
apparatus  which  conveys  the  heat  to  the  flues  in  the  walls,  it  may 
be  very  well  believed  that  a  man  naked  in  a  screen  room,  at  one, 
two,  and  three  o’clock  in  the  morning,  might  be  cold,  and  appeal 
to  the  engineer,  when  he  came  on  duty,  for  warmth  ;  and  that, 
too,  without  reflecting  upon  the  engineer  or  general  directions 
given  by  the  superintendent  for  warming  the  buildings.  Richards 
was  kept  in  one  of  the  “  old  wings,”  and  the  superintendent,  in 
bis  last  report  to  the  Legislature,  (page  35,)  says:  “With 
all  the  agreed  perfection  of  our  system  of  boilers,  pipes,  etc.,  the 
air  in  the  old  wings  is  with  difficulty  kept  at  proper  temperature 


62 


in  extreme  cold  weather,  entirely  from  the  bad  construction  of  the 
flues  in  the  brick  walls.” 

Again,  Merrick  swears  (page  134,)  that  “  Creighton,  a  patient, 
was  beaten  and  bruised  badly,  and  died  soon  after,  and  that  he 
helped  lay  him  out;  that  his  head  and  face  were  swollen  very 
much  ;  was  black  under  the  eyes,  and  on  the  cheek  bones ;  that 
there  were  bruises  about  his  arms  and  shoulders  and  other  parts 
of  his  body,  and  had  a  cut  or  wound  on  his  face.”  Dr.  Dutton, 
the  present  senior  assistant  physician,  is  called  to  contradict  or 
explain  this,  and  says  (page  277,)  “that  he  remembers  the  case  of 
Creighton  ;  that  he  (Creighton)  was  under  Dr.  Emery,  who  is  now 
dead  ;  but  that  Creighton’s  remains  were  sent  home,  and  no  com¬ 
plaint  was  ever  made  by  his  friends  about  the  condition  of  his 
remains  !”  But  whether  the  poor  man  had  any  friends  who  exam¬ 
ined  his  remains  after  they  reached  home,  does  not  appear. 

Miss  Jennie  Kee,  (page  118,)  Mrs.  Cassell,  (page  177,)  and  Mrs. 
Graff,  (page  295,)  whose  testimony  will  be  more  fully  referred  to 
hereafter,  mention  the  case  of  Mrs.  Farenside,  who,  on  one  occa¬ 
sion,  had  a  black  eye,  and  when  inquired  of  as  to  the  cause,  said 
when  the  Doctor  was  bringing  her  down  stairs  she  resisted,  and 
he  struck  her.  The  circumstances  connected  with  this  matter  are 
mentioned  by  these  witnesses.  To  disprove  this  statement  of  Mrs. 
Farenside,  or  show  the  improbability  that  the  Doctor  struck  her, 
instead  of  some  one  else,  her  husband  testified  that  she  never 
told  him  that  the  Doctor  struck  her,  but  admits  that  she  com¬ 
plained  to  him  of  the  institution.  It  seems,  from  the  testimony 
of  her  husband,  that  Mrs.  Farenside  was  sent  by  him  to  the  hos¬ 
pital  in  1860,  discharged  July  29,  1862,  and  readmitted  in  Jan¬ 
uary,  1865,  and  remains  there  now ;  that  her  insanity  was  paroxys¬ 
mal;  that  the  first  cause  of  it  was  a  supposed  joy  at  her  husband’s 
sudden  return  home  after  an  absence  of  a  week,  during  which 
time  she  supposed  him  dead  ;  that  her  malady  is  supposed  to  be 
incurable ;  that  while  she  was  home,  and  prior  to  her  second 
admission,  he  had  heard  that  she  had  been  badly  treated,  and 
inquired  about  it;  that  when'  she  appeared  sane  she  made  no 
complaints,  but  when  she  was  not  sane,  grumbled  about  the  insti¬ 
tution  and  him ;  that  he  is  poor  and  pays  nothing  for  her  board, 
although  she  is  not  in  the  hospital  as  a  pauper.  The  conduct  of 
this  patient  was  different  when  the  committee  saw  her  than 
described  by  her  husband;  for,  having  had  their  attention  spe - 

\ 


08 


I 


dally  called  to  this  case,  and  finding  her  in  the  hospital,  the  com¬ 
mittee  and  Drs.  Patterson  and  Johnson  made  special  inquiry  of 
her  concerning  her  usage,  and  inquired  of  her  if  she  had  ever 
been  struck  by  any  one  in  the  hospital.  Though  she  was  believed 
to  be  insane  at  times,  she  evidently  understood  the  inquiry,  and 
her  reply  was,  “  she  did  not  want  to  talk  about  the  matter” — 
neither  admitting  nor  denying,  but  apparently  acting  under 
restraint.  Under  the  circumstances,  the  committee,  therefore,  do 
not  consider  that  the  negative  testimony  of  her  husband  disproves 
the  testimony  of  Miss  Kee,  Mrs.  Cassell  and  Mrs.  Graff;  for, 
although  they  neither  of  them  swear  that  they  saw  the  Doctor 
strike  the  patient,  the  fact  proven  that  she  was  injured  by  some 
one,  and  at  the  same  time  said  the  Doctor  struck  her,  together 
with  the  circumstances  detailed  by  three  different  witnesses, 
leaves  little  doubt  that  her  statement  was  true. 

Another  case  of  contradiction  upon  a  single  point  is  between 
Miss  Kane  and  Mrs.  Hasckett,  in  relation  to  an  indignity  which 
Mrs.  Hasckett,  an  attendant,  committed  upon  a  Miss  Magin,  a 
patient.  Miss  Kane,  among  other  matters,  distinctly  swears  to  it ; 
(page  130,)  and  Mrs.  Hasckett,  (page  313,)  says  that  she  knew  a 
patieut  by  the  name  of  Dwyre  •  that  she  does  not  remember  the 
case  testified  to  by  Miss  Kane,  and  that  she  never  committed  any 
indecency  upon  any  female  patient.  The  committee  presume 
Mrs.  Hasckett  has  forgotten  the  matter,  and  believe  Miss  Kane. 

THE  SUPERINTENDENT. 

The  committee  would  not  for  a  moment  conceal,  or  seek  to  con¬ 
ceal  the  iact,  that — in  approaching  the  consideration  of  the  ques¬ 
tion  as  to  the  responsibility  which  properly  belongs  to  the  super¬ 
intendent  in  the  government  of  the  hospital,  how  far  he  can  justly 
be  held  responsible  for  the  conduct  of  his  subordinates,  and  what 
is  the  position  he  now  occupies  to  the  people  of  the  state,  in  the 
light  reflected  upon  him  by  the  evidence  submitted — they  do  so 
not  without  embarrasment,  but  with  some  appreciation  of  the 
numerous  and  varied  difficulties  and  embarrassments  surrounding 
the  office,  and  a  most  sincere  and  painful  consciousness  that, 
though  their  duty  seems  plain,  the  result  of  this  examination, 
nevertheless,  must  disappoint  his  numerous  friends  and  admirers 
throughout  the  state.  Yet,  no  one  can  attentively  read  the  very 
intelligent  and  learned  testimony  of  the  medical  witnesses  exam- 


64 


ined,  including  several  superintendents  of  similar  institutions — 
some  of  whom  have  a  high  national  reputation — without  feeling 
the  neces&ity  of  carefully  considering  all  the  difficulties  of  the 
position,  as  well  as  the  rigid  rule  of  accountability  which  ought 
justly  to  be  applied  to  an  officer  occupying  that  responsible 
position. 

Some  of  these  principal  difficulties  grow  out  of  radical  changes, 
in  the  treatment  and  government  of  the  insane,  from  the  old 
system.  Dr.  Isaac  Day,  of  Philadelphia,  who  has  been  in  charge 
of  the  insane  for  twenty  years,  so  concisely  defines  these  changes, 
and  the  objects  of  them,  that  the  following  extract  is  made  from 
his  testimony.  He  says  : 

“Up  to  the  early  part  of  the  present  century,  the  insane  were 
restrained,  in  hospitals,  by  chains,  iron  collars,  and  straight  jack¬ 
ets ;  by  fastening  them  to  their  beds  or  strong  chairs,  and  seclusion 
in  their  rooms.  At  present,  and  for  many  years  past,  restraint  is 
effected  solely  by  the  camisole,  which  is  a  simple  linen  or  cotton 
jacket  laced  or  buttoned  behind,  with  long  sleeves  crossing  in 
front  and  tied  together  behind ;  by  wristers ,  wdiich  are  leather 
bracelets  put  upon  the  wrists,  with  a  strap  passing  through  them 
in  front  and  buckled  behind,  whereby  the  hands  are  prevented  from 
striking,  while  they  are  allowed  a  considerable  degree  of  motion ; 
by  a  leather  muff ,  in  which  the  hands  are  confined ;  and  by  seclu¬ 
sion,  or  solitary  confinement.  In  some  hospitals  a  contrivance  is 
used  for  confining  a  patient  to  his  bed,  called  the  bed  strap,  intro¬ 
duced  by  the  late  Dr.  Wyman.  Superintendent  of  the  McLean 
Asylum,  in  Somerville,  Mass.  The  principle  which  has  governed 
all  the  changes,  is  to  effect  restraint  in  the  easiest  possible  manner 
and  in  the  least  possible  degree,  consistent  with  the  welfare  of  the 
patient  and  the  safety  of  those  associated  with  him.  And  in  this 
connection  it  should  be  considered,  that,  whereas  restraint  was 
formerly  applied  for  long  periods  and  as  a  final  measure,  it  is  now, 
for  the  most  part,  of  short  duration,  and  intended  to  meet  an 
emergency  until  other  measures  shall  have  had  their  effect.  Es¬ 
pecially  is  this  so  with  respect  to  seclusion.” 

“  In  every  well-regulated  hospital  for  the  insane,  patients  are 
associated  together  in  the  different  wards  according  to  certain 
rules  of  classification,  the  object  being  to  place  those  together  who 
are  least  likely  to  offend  or  disturb  one  another.  A  quiet  patient 
is  placed  with  other  quiet  patients ,  and  a  noisy ,  excited ,  or  Violent 


patient  with  those  of  similar  traits.  A  refined,  cultivated  person 
is  placed  where  he  will  not  be  annoyed  by  the  vulgar  and  pr  of  an  eA 

These  remarks  ot  Dr.  Kay  cover  the  whole  case  as  to  change 
from  old  to  present  system — the  “restraints”  or  mechanical 
means  of  con  lining  patients  now  used,  and  his  opinion  of  the 
proper  classification  of  patients.  Of  course  the  change  from  isola¬ 
tion  or  solitary  confinement,  to  association  and  classification  into 
wards,  as  it  increases  the  personal  liberty  of  the  patient,  the  risk 
of  collisions  among  themselves  and  with  their  attendants,  is  in¬ 
creased.  But  these  risks  and  injuries  from  collisions  are  supposed 
to  be  more  than  counterbalanced  by  the  benefits  which  the  patient 
receives  from  his  liberty  and  association ;  and  the  testimony 
would  appear  to  clearly  establish  the  superiority  of  the  present 
over  the  former  treatment.  It  is  not  with  the  relative  merits  of 
these  opposing  systems,  however,  that  the  committee  have  had  to 
deal,  but  to  endeavor  to  ascertain  whether  the  injuries  inflicted 
upon  patients  have  been  incidental  to  their  government  under  ayi 
approved  system ,  or  otherwise.  Of  course  occasional  collisions 
will  occur  among  patients  when  thus  associated  together,  and  that, 
too,  without  the  fault  of  the  employees.  So  far  as  the  abuse  of 
patients  by  attendants  is  concerned,  the  opinion  has  already  been 
expressed  that  such  abuses  were  in  violation  of  the  well  under¬ 
stood  printed  regulations;  and  being  without  any  conceivable 
motive,  they  must  be  the  result  of  a  want  of  discipline  over  the 
attendants,  and  that  care  and  watchfulness,  on  the  part  of  the  offi¬ 
cers,  so  indispensably  necessary  in  such  an  institution. 

And  the  committee  had  well  hoped  that,  although  there  might 
be  mistakes  or  even  neglect  on  the  part  of  the  superintendent, 
nothing  involving  his  character  ns  a  humane  man  and  gentleman 
would  be  shown  to  exist.  In  this,  however,  the  committee  have 
been  grievously  disappointed  ;  and  that  there  may  be  no  doubt, 
after  a  careful  inspection  of  the  hospital  and  a  large  accumulation 
of  evidence,  to  what  extent  the  committee  regard  his  administra¬ 
tion,  in  respect  to  its  financial  affairs  and  government ,  a  success 
or  failure,  they  will  undertake  to  briefly  specify. 

Dr.  McFarland  entered  upon  the  discharge  of  his  duties  as 
superintendent,  June  16,  1851;  and,  having  served  acceptably  ten 
years,  he  was  re-appointed,  by  the  unanimous  vote  of  the  trustees, 
in  June,  1864.  In  their  report  of  December,  1864,  the  trustees 

mention  him  as  possessing  eminent  qualifications — exhibiting 

— 9 


[60 


executive  ability  and  fidelity  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties,  that 
met  with  their  unqualified  commendation.  To  a  man  of  philan¬ 
thropic  feeling  or  professional  ambition,  his  position  was  then  one 
of  great  usefulness,  and  almost  an  enviable  one.  Having  had  an 
experience  of  twenty  years  (ten  years  in  New  Hampshire,)  in  the 
treatment  of  the  insane,  he  had  seen  the  institution  of  which  he 
was  the  chief  executive  officer,  survive  the  troubles  of  earlier 
years  and  occupy  a  commanding  position  throughout  the  country. 
That  he  is  a  man  of  decided  ability,  of  extensive  culture,  and  so 
far  as  the  finances  of  the  institution  are  concerned,  has  been  faith¬ 
ful  in  the  discharge  of  his  trusts,  the  committee  have  no  doubt. 
In  the  purchase  of  supplies,  which  is  done  by  private  contract, 
under  his  direction — in  the  system  of  keeping  accounts  and 
vouchers  adopted,  in  the  rigid  economy  which  seems  to  be  prac¬ 
ticed,  and  in  the  general  superintendence  of  the  fiscal  affairs  of 
the  hospital,  there  does  not  appear  any  cause  of  complaint.  But 
it  is  in  the  government  of  the  'patients  and  attendants ,  and  in  the 
principle  of  classification  of  patients ,  that  the  difficulty  is  to  be 
found.  Familiarity  with  suffering  and  sorrow  has  apparently,  to 
some  extent,  deadened  his  sensibilities  and  sympathies;  and,  long 
accustomed  to  govern,  he  has  become  about  the  hospital  (perhaps 
necessarily  so)  a  kind  of  supreme  law,  and  the  rule  of  force  has 
too  often  usurped  the  law  of  love. 

The  classification  of  patients  in  their  wards  does  seem,  in  many 
cases,  fundamentally  wrong.  The  most  desperate  and  vicious  oc¬ 
cupy  the  lower,  or  what  is  called  the  “worst  7  wards;  yet,  in 
many  cases,  the  noisy  and  turbulent,  the  profane  and  vulgar,  are 
associated  with  those  of  apparently  opposite  character  and  habits  ; 
and  it  is  in  proof,  that  transfers  are  made  from  the  best  to  worst 
wards,  as  punishment  for  offenses,  although,  in  theory,  the  words 
punishment  and  offiense  are  banished  from  the  vocabulary  of  hos¬ 
pitals  for  the  insane.  In  reply  to  inquiries  for  the  reasons  of  this 
classification,  the  superintendent  intormed  the  committee  that  pa¬ 
tients  of  opposite  character  and  tendencies  were  frequently  bene¬ 
fited  by  such  association — that  the  violent  and  noisy  would  be 
sometimes  restrained  by  the  quiet  and  orderly,  and  at  the  same 
time  the  sedative  and  melancholy  would  be  profitably  aroused 
by  the  boisterous,  and  thus  both  classes,  by  counteracting  influ¬ 
ences,  be  benefited.  Experience,  no  doubt,  is  usually  a  safe  guide? 
and  though  the  committee  frankly  admit  they  have  had  none,  in 


67 


this  respect,  yet,  remembering  what  they  saw  in  the  hospital,  they 
would  respectfully  and  tirmly  protest  that  such  association  does 
not  appear  reasonable  in  itself;  and  they  do  not  think  the  practice  is 
fully  sustaind  by  the  testimony  of  superintendents  of  other  hospitals. 
Dr.  Bay,  it  will  be  noticed,  says  “a  quiet  patient  should  be  placed 
with  other  quiet  patients,  and  noisy,  excited,  or  violent  patients 
with  those  of  similar  traits  ;  a  refined  and  cultivated  person  should 
be  placed  where  he  will  not  be  annoyed  by  the  vulgar  and  pro¬ 
fane.”  Dr.  J.  W.  Sawyer,  Superintendent  of  the  Butler  hospital 
for  the  insane,  at  Providence,  B  I.,  says,  that  “ 'patients  should  be 
associated  whose  cases  are  similar .”  Dr.  W.  P.  Jones,  Superin¬ 
tendent  of  the  Tennessee  hospital  for  the  insane,  says,  that  “to per¬ 
mit  the  unrestrained  association  of  homicidal  'patients  with  others, 
would  indeed  be  most  culpable  and  cruel  conduct  on  the  part  of  any 
super  in  ten  dentP 

The  committee  remember,  in  this  connection,  a  homicidal  pa¬ 
tient  from  Lake  county,  who,  not  long  since,  under  a  real  or 
pretended  delusion,  killed  his  wife,  and  was  sent  to  the  hospital 
instead  of  the  gallows.  He  was  in  a  ward  of  apparently  peaceably 
inclined  patients,  who  may  not  be  disturbed  by  him  unless  he 
should  some  time  have  a  “call”  to  kill  them,  in  which  case  there 
is  no  doubt  he  would  do  it,  for  he  is  physically  a  powerful  man. 
True,  he  had  manifested  no  homicidal  tendency  while  in  the  hos¬ 
pital,  but  the  fact  that  he  had  killed  his  wife  suggested  the  grave 
responsibility  of  leaving  other  lives  exposed. 

This  question  of  classification  of  patients  is  the  only  one,  which 
may  be  regarded  as  professional,  upon  which  the  committee  have 
intimated  an  opinion,  and  they  have  done  so  in  this  instance  only 
because  they  supposed  it  was  one  upon  which,  in  some  respect, 
all  persons  might  safely  entertain  an  opinion. 

As  to  “restraints,”  it  appears  that  those  in  use  in  the  hospital, 
to-wit :  the  screen-room,  the  camisole  (or  straight-jacket),  the 
wristers,  the  bed-strap,  and  crib-bedsteads,  whose  uses  are  ex¬ 
plained  in  the  testimony,  are  such  only  as  are  used  in  other  hos¬ 
pitals  ;  and  instead  of  being,  when  properly  used,  instruments  of 
torture,  they  seem  a  very  proper  and  necessary  means  of  control¬ 
ling  patients  in  their  paroxysms,  or  when  they  manifest  suicidal 
or  homicidal  tendencies.  The  shower-bath,  in  this  hospital,  as  in 
others,  and  generally  in  the  prisons  of  the  country,  has  gone 
down,  under  the  enlightened  and  humanizing  spirit  of  the  age. 


68 


The  ordinary'  bath-tub  is  properly  retained,  because  it  consti¬ 
tutes  a  part  of  the  curative  treatment  of  tiie  insane.  It  has  also 
been  used  in  this  hospital  by  the  attendants,  as  a  means  of  pun¬ 
ishment,  and  it  is  evident  that  the  threat  of  a  bath  had  more 
terrors  to  Miss  Eames  (p.  121),  and  Maggie  Rowland  (p.122),  and 
Mrs.  Clark  (p.  12;>),  or  any  disobedient  patient,  than  a  straight- 
jacket.  The  straight-jacket,  useful  in  itself,  was  found  too  harsh, 
and  in  1860,  was  changed,  at  the  suggestion  of  Miss  Dix.  It  was 
also  sometimes  secretly  used  by  attendants  as  a  means  of  punish¬ 
ment,  although  it  cannot  be  that  the  superintendent  ordered  its 
use  or  knew  of  the  scenes  described  by  Mrs.  Graff  (p.  12),  or  the 
cases  of  Mrs.  Boyce  and  Miss  Jane  Berrickman.  It  does ,  hour 
ever,  appear  in  the  evidence  that  about  forty  patients,  whose  names 
are  given ,  and  about  twenty,  whose  names  are  7iot  remembered, 
have  been  abused  by  attendants  /  and  about  twenty  five  attendants, 
whose  names  are  given,  have  been  guilty  of  these  abuses.  It  also 
appears  that  several  attendants  have  been  discharged,  for  neglect 
and  cruelty  ;  but  how  many,  or  whom,  or  for  what  particular  act, 
and  under  what  circumstances,  does  not  appear,  except  in  three 
cases,  where  they  were  discharged  and  fined  by  a  justice  of  the 
peace.  It  does  not  appear,  either,  that  any  of  the  attendants 
above  referred  to  were  discharged  for  such  cause,  but  it  is  shown 
that  one  or  two  of  the  attendants  first  above  enumerated  are  now 
in  the  service  of  the  institution. 

As  a  general  proposition,  the  superintendent  is  responsible  to 
the  public  for  the  conduct  of  his  attendants.  He  may  or  not  be 
censurable  on  account  of  their  abuse.  This  depends  upon  the 
frequency  and  extent  of  it.  Though  printed  regulations  and  oral 
instructions  forbid  it — though,  as  in  this  case,  several  of  the  wit¬ 
nesses  who  testify  to  it,  voluntarily  protest  that  they  did  not 
believe  the  Doctor  approved  or  in  many  cases  knew  it — though  it 
is  likely  that  many  instances  came  to  his  knowledge,  for  the 
first  time,  in  the  evidence;  yet  if  he  failed  to  adopt  vigilant  means 
to  prevent  or  detect  or  punish  it,  when  known,  then  is  he  respon¬ 
sible  for  it.  In  one  respect,  his  police  regulations  are  bad,  and 
fatal  in  his  government.  He  assumes  that  insane  patients  are 
never  to  be  believed,  and  therefore  does  not  listen  with  favor  to 
their  complaints.  He  substantially  denies  the  right  of  petition 
and  investigation;  and  like  all  public  officers  who  do  this,  he  finds 
himself,  too  late,  surrounded  by  difficulties,  and  imposed  upon. 


69 


i 

He  does  not  require  or  encourage  attendants  to  report  to  him  each 
other’s  delinquencies,  but  depends  upon  his  supervisors,  and 
assistant  physicians,  to  report  all  violations  of  the  regulations. 
And  right  here  is  believed  to  be  the  explanation  of  his  ignorance  of 
a  large  portion  of  the  abuses.  His  government  of  patients  is 
believed  too  severe,  and  his  discipline  of  attendants  too  mild,  and  it 
is  doubted  whether  an  increase  of  wages,  in  order  to  secure  a  bet¬ 
ter  class  of  attendants,  would  remedy  the  evil,  so  long  as  the 
present  policy  in  this  respect  remains  unchanged. 

Nor  does  the  responsibility  of  the  superintendent  for  this  state 
of  things  terminate  here.  We  sincerely  wish  it  did,  and  are 
reluctantly  compelled  to  refer  to  some  portions  of  testimony  in 
relation  to  positive  acts  of  his — not  so  conclusive  upon  one  point, 
it  is  true  ;  but  it  is  difficult  to  resist  the  force  of  it.  Touching  his 
further  neglect,  as  well  as  personal  abuse  of  patients,  the  following 
appears  in  the  evidence : 

Miss  Kane  testifies  (p.  5)  that  when  she  went  there,  the  Doctor 
told  her,  that  “  she  would  hear  a  great  many  hard  stories  about 
the  institution,  but  she  must  not  believe  a  word  of  them  ;  ”  that 
at  one  time  (p.  9)  eleven  were  sick  in  her  ward  with  flux,  four  of 
whom  died,  and  were  not  furnished  with  medicines,  nor  she  with 
any  extra  assistance  to  nurse  them ;  a  neglect,  if  true,  (and  it  was 
not  contradicted,)  that  amounts  to  a  positive  wrongful  act,  and 
should  be  so  esteemed  by  right  thinking  men. 

Mr.  Searles,  after  describing  his  horrible  suffering  from  his 
sickness  and  disease — his  confinement  (perhaps  necessary)  in  a 
straight-jacket — testifies,  “that  he  does  not  know  as  Dr.  McFar¬ 
land  was  cognizant  of  the  operation,  for  at  that  stage  of  his 
treatment  he  never  went  to  him  for  sympathy  or  a  redress  of  his 
wrongs,  knowing,  as  he  did,  too  well,  the  nature  of  the  man  ;  and 
that  even  if  had  he  been  disposed  to  do  so,  he  had  little  opportu¬ 
nity,  for  he  seldom  made  his  appearance  in  the  ward. 

Captain  Henry  testifies  (pp.  55  and  56)  that  he  on  one  occasion 
f*  rescued  a  patient,  who  was  being  tortured  by  two  patients  holding 
him  on  his  back,  and  a  third  pouring  water  in  his  face  from  a  pail, 
when  he  rushed  in  and  drove  the  wretches  from  the  room,  and 
reported  the  case  to  the  Doctor,  who  paid  no  attention  to  it ;  and 
the  witness  then  reported  the  case  to  the  president  of  the  board  of 
trustees,  and  threatened  that  if  such  abuses  were  repeated  he 
would  go  before  the  grand  jury. 


70 


Mrs.  Shedd  testifies  (p.  6S)  to  what  she  considered  as  improper 
liberties  with  her.  As  to  this  transaction,  the  committee  are  not 
well  satisfied  whether  or  not  Dr.  McFarland’s  conduct  was  in¬ 
tended  as  mere  playfulness,  or  whether  Mrs.  Shedd  is  correct  in 
her  understanding  of  the  matter. 

Mrs.  .Bland  testifies  (p.  .125)  that  she  reported  one  case  of  abuse, 
when  the  Doctor  told  her  to  “  mind  her  own  business,”  and  that 
on  that  account  she  did  not  afterwards  report  other  cases  which 
she  described.  Merrick  testifies  (p.  138)  that,  when  he  was  first 
employed,  the  Doctor  told  him  to  keep  his  mouth  shut  and  his  eyes 
oj>en ,  and  he  did  so,  until  Mr.  Supervisor  Doane  hurt  Myers,  when 
Merrick  told  Doane  if  he  hurt  another  man  he  would  report  him. 
Edmundson  (p.  168)  says,  that  when  he  went  to  the  Doctor  about 
his  business,  he  generally  got  a  very  short  answer,  and  he  came 
to  the  conclusion  there  was  no  satisfaction  in  going  with  complaints 
to  him. 

Mrs.  Cassell  says,  (p.  184)  and  Miss  Kane,  that  it  was  the  prae> 
tice  of  the  house  not  to  allow  persons  in  feeble  health,  sickly  aid 
weak,  to  lie  down  in  the  daytime,  and  that  she  had  frequently 
heard  complaints  from  such  persons  on  that  account. 

Miss  Oleson  testifies  (p.  207)  that  she  informed  the  Doctor 
of  these  abuses  once,  that  she  well  recollects  of,  and  the  Doctor 
promised  an  investigation. 

Miss  Jennie  Kee  says  (p.  118)  that  Mrs.  Farenside  was,  on  one 
occasion,  brought  from  the  7th  wrard,  and  placed  in  a  room  in  the 
new  wfing ;  that  she  was  afterwards  brought  to  her  ward  ;  that 
while  she  was  in  the  room  in  the  wing,  witness  and  Elizabeth 
Eonah  went  to  look  in  to  see  her,  when  Dr.  McFarland  told  Eliza¬ 
beth  that  he  did  not  want  her  to  open  the  door  of  that  room, 
unless  he  gave  particular  orders ;  that  when  Mrs.  Farenside  came 
to  her  ward,  she  had  a  very  black  eye,  which  she  (Mrs.  F.)  said 
was  done  by  Dr.  McFarland’s  hand  ;  that  Mrs.  F.  said  she  resisted 
the  Dr.  when  he  was  bringing  her  down  stairs,  and  he  struck  her ; 
that  Mrs.  F.  was  in  this  room  alone  by  herself  three  days. 

Mrs.  Cassell  says  (p.  177)  that  this  case  of  Mrs.  Farenside  wTas 
talked  a  great  deal  about ;  that  she  appeared  one  morning  at  the 
breakfast  table  in  the  5th  ward,  after  having  been  removed  from 
the  7th  ward — which  was  from  the  best  to  the  worst  ward — with 
a  black  eye;  that  witness  inquired  of  her  the  cause,  and  Mrs. 
Farenside  told  her  the  Doctor  struck  her ;  that  her  face  was  very 


71 


much  bruised  and  blacked  for  several  days.  Witness  also  says 
that  Mrs.  Farenside  was  a  quiet  patient,  and  that  if  she  had  been 
a  violent  or  boisterous  patient  she  would  not  have  been  in  the  7th 
ward,  where  she  was  until  after  this  occurrence,  when  she  was 
transferred  to  the  worst  ward. 

Mrs.  Graff  also  refers  (p.  295)  to  the  case  of  Mrs.  Farenside, 
and  says  that  on  one  occasion,  during  the  latter  part  of  her  stay 
there,  she  saw  Mrs.  F.  sitting  in  her  ward,  and  the  Doctor  told 
her  not  to  go  near  her,  for  he  was  “  cooling  her  off.” 

Mrs  Packard  testifies  (p.  100)  that,  one  Sabbath  as  she  was 
going  down  stairs,  the  Doctor  met  her,  and  seizing  her  violently 
by  the  arm,  told  her  to  return  to  her  ward  ;  and  she  not  obeying, 
but  standing  still,  the  Doctor  attempted  to  drag  her  back,  but 
seeing  Drs.  Sturtevant  and  Tenney,  he  suddenly  let  go  his  hold, 
and  she  fell  from  his  grasp  down  the  stairs  upon  the  hall  floor 
below,  and  was  almost  stunned,  and  that  the  Doctor  went  along 
without  helping  her  in  the  least.  Mrs.  Packard  also  testifies  (p. 
106)  that,  on  another  occasion,  she  saw  the  Doctor  lead  a  very 
sensible  and  industrious  patient  from  one  ward  to  another,  while 
he  was  in  a  great  rage  from  a  verbal  reproof  the  patient  had  given 
him  ;  that  he  took  her  down  the  back  dark  staircase,  himself  fol¬ 
lowing  behind,  and  kicking  her  back  as  she  was  passing  down, 
when  thus  hid  from  all  observers;  and  that  the  patient  could  show 
black  and  blue  spots  upon  her  back  for  weeks  afterwards,  which 
the  patient  said  were  caused  by  the  Doctor’s  kicks. 

Mrs.  Cassel  further  testifies  (p.  188)  to  Mrs.  Farenside’s  com¬ 
plaining  that  the  Doctor  had  kicked  her;  and  as  the  name  of 
the  patient  to  whom  Mrs.  Packard  refers  as  being  kicked,  is  not 
mentioned,  it  may  be  that  both  refer  to  the  case  of  Mrs.  Faren¬ 
side.  If  not,  then  they  are,  of  course  different  cases  ;  but,  from 
the  statements  of  the  patients,  the  punishment  was  inflicted  by 
the  Doctor  himself,  and  it  is  immaterial  whether  these  witnesses 
refer  to  the  same  or  different  cases. 

In  relation  to  this  case  of  Mrs.  Farenside,  the  testimony  of  her 
husband  has  been  referred  to  on  the  question  of  contradiction, 
and  need  not  be  repeated.  It  is  true  that  no  one  swears  to  seeing 
the  Doctor  injure  Mrs.  Farenside.  They  describe  the  injuries  to 
her,  and  some  of  the  circumstances  occurring  before  and  after  the 
injuries,  and  also,  that  immediately  after  it  she  said  it  was  com¬ 
mitted  by  the  Doctor ;  and  as  there  can  be  no  doubt  there  was 


difficulty  between  them  at  the  time,  the  testimony  of  the  witnesses 
amounts  to  a  corroboration  at  least,  and  the  testimony  being  unex¬ 
plained,  the  conclusion  seems  almost  irresistible  that  Mrs.  F.  told 
the  truth  about  it. 

There  appears  in  the  evidence  but  one  more  case  of  punish¬ 
ment  inflicted  by  the  superintendent,  or  under  his  immediate 
direction,  and  that  seem*,  from  unquestionable  proof,  full  of  dra¬ 
matic  interest.  Mrs.  Graff  (p.  13)  says  that  in  the  spring  before 
she  left  the  institution  (spring  of  1861),  the  Doctor  inflicted  a  ter¬ 
rible  punishmeut  upon  a  one-armed  patient,  who  had  been  sent  to 
the  hospital  after  a  trial  for  murder ;  that  the  punishment  was  for 
striking  an  attendant,  Bell ;  that  the  attendant  was  struck  in  the 
morning,  and  as  the  witness  was  going  at  night  down  for  water  she 
met  the  engineer  and  porter  of  the  hospital  going  up  with  chains  and 
buckets  of  water;  that  soon  after  she  heard  (p.  291)  the  voice  of  the 
patient,  away  up  in  the  upper  part  of  the  wing,  in  the  further  corner, 
crying  “Oh,  Doctor  !  Oh,  Doctor  !  Oh,  Doctor  !”  She  says  she 
knows  he  was  chained  and  punished  with  a  shower  bath,  because 
she  saw  the  engineer  going  up  with  chains,  and  that  he,  the 
patient,  afterwards  had  the  chains  upon  him  while  she  remained 
there ;  and  though  she  did  not  follow  the  porter  and  others,  who 
had  pails  of  water  when  they  went  up,  she  is  well  satisfied  he  was 
put  in  a  shower  bath  ;  and  she  knows  the  Doctor  directed  it, 
because  she  went  to  the  Doctor  that  night  and  asked  him  to  pay 
her  and  let  her  go,  and  that  he  told  her,  perhaps  she  did  not 
understand  the  case  (p.  13),  that  “  he  had  saved  that  man  from 
the  gallows,”  and  (p.  291)  that  “  he  witnessed  the  punishment 
himself.”  In  relation  to  shower  baths,  Mrs.  Graff  says  (p.  295) 
that  she  never  saw  a  shower  bath  used,  but  she  knows  they  were 
used,  as  well  as  she  could  know  without  seeing  them  ;  that  when 
she  first  went  there — in  July,  1858 — there  was  a  shower  bath  in 
every  ward,  but  they  were  taken  down  when  Miss  Dix  came  there, 
which  she  thinks  was  the  second  year  after  she  came  there.  If 
she  is  correct  in  this,  the  shower  baths  were  taken  out  of  the 
wards  in  1860,  and  before  the  spring  of  1861,  when  she  says  this 
punishment  wras  inflicted. 

But  that  this  one-armed  man,  whose  name  she  does  not  remem¬ 
ber,  but  who  is  undoubtedly  the  patient  named  as  Wyant  in  the 
testimony  of  Dr.  Bell  (p.  401),  was  dreadfully  punished  for  striking 
the  attendant,  Bell,  and  that  the  water  and  chains  were  applied  to 


him  there  cannot  be  a  doubt.  The  whole  circumstances  of  the 
case  appear  revolting.  It  may  be  that  the  patient  was  a  violent 
desperado,  yet  the  justification  interposed,  that  he  might  be  thus 
punished  because  his  life  had  been  saved  by  the  Doctor’s  testi¬ 
mony,  is  almost  too  shocking  to  be  believed,  and  shows  that  the 
will  which  directed  the  punishment  must  belong  to  a  “man  of 
iron,’1  and  the  mind  which  could  entertain  such  claims  of  gratitude 
must  be  “  fatally  bent  on  mischief.” 

The  only  remaining  class  of  testimony,  which  will  be  referred 
to,  is  that  in  relation  to  the  testimony  of  Miss  Julia  A.  Wilson, 
who  testifies  to  an  insult  offered  to  her  by  the  superintendent  in 
July  last.  The  circumstances  connected  with  taking  this  evidence 
have  already  been  alluded  to,  and  will  more  fully  be  seen  by  refer¬ 
ence  to  the  journal  of  the  committee,  and  the  testimony  of  Miss 
Wilson,  and  J.  D.  IT.  Chamberlin,  Esq. 

It  appears,  from  the  testimony  of  this  witness,  that  she  is  thirty- 
two  years  of  age,  was  born  in  Buffalo,  1ST.  Y.,  and  has  resided 
there  the  principal  part  of  the  time  since.  That  she  is  the  daughter 
of  a  widow  lady  now  residing  at  375  Michigan  street,  Buffalo,  her 
father  having,  for  several  years,  been  connected  with  the  Buffalo 
Commercial  Advertiser,  and  who  died  about  eighteen  years  ago- 
leaving  her  mother  and  a  large  family  with  no  property  except 
their  home  ;  that  in  the  latter  part  of  July  last  she  had  a  sister,  a 
Mrs.  E.  D.  Brown,  in  the  hospital,  who  had  been  a  patient  there 
since  1861,  and  whom  she  had  previously  visited,  and  concerning 
whom  she  had  corresponded  with  the  superintendent ;  that  in  vis¬ 
iting  her  sister  at  the  hospital,  she  had  made  the  acquaintance  of 
a  Mrs.  Dr.  Grant,  of  Jacksonville,  with  whom  she  had  also 
visited ;  that  a  short  time  before  a  certain  Thursday  (July  26th) 
in  the  latter  part  of  that  month,  she  had  received  a  letter  at 
Springfield  (where  she  was  at  work  as  a  seamstress  in  the  family 
of  B.  E.  Goodell,  Esq.),  from  the  Doctor,  concerning  the  discharge 
of  her  sister ;  and  that  on  that  Thursday  afternoon  she  went  to 
the  hospital  to  make  some  clothes  for  her  sister  and  prepare  her  for 
removal ;  that  she  saw  Dr.  McFarland  at  this  time,  and  he  told 
her  that  there  was  no  room  there  then,  as  they  were  full  of  guests, 
but  that  they  would  be  away  the  following  Friday  noon,  and  he 
invited  her  to  come  and  stay  at  the  hospital;  that  she  told  the 
Doctor  that  as  she  had  some  purchases  to  make,  she  would  return 

there  on  Saturday ;  that  on  Saturday  she  went  back  to  the  hos- 
—10 


74 


pital  about  live  o’clock — saw  the  Doctor  in  the  reception  room, 
when  he  immediately  showed  her  up  to  the  room  she  was  to  occu¬ 
py,  and  talked  to  her  about  the  condition  of  her  sister ;  that  in 
this  interview  the  Doctor  said  she  had  better  not  anticipate  remov¬ 
ing  her  sister  then,  as  she  was  not  lit  to  live  among  sane  people, 
but  told  her  to  remain  a  while,  and  they  would  try  and  make  it 
comfortable  for  her,  and  she  could  then  see  for  herself;  that  on 
receiving  this  statement  concerning  the  condition  of  her  sister, 
and  relying  upon  it,  she  wTas  affected  to  tears ;  that  she  then  told 
the  Doctor  that  she  wanted  to  see  her  sister  immediately ;  that 
something  was  then  said  by  her  about  her  sister  staying  with  her 
in  that  room,  and  the  Doctor  examined  the  windows  and  said 
they  were  not  safe ;  that  this  alarmed  her,  and  she  decided  not  to 
have  her  sister  remain  with  her  over  night ;  that  she  thinks  the 
Doctor  went  out  before  her  sister  was  brought  in  by  an  attendant, 
and  returned  ;  that  on  her  sister  being  ushered  in  by  an  attendant 
the  Doctor  went  out,  but  in  a  few  moments  returned  and  took  a 
seat,  and  after  talking  a  few  moments  he  handed  her  an  envelope 
and  went  out,  and  said  he  would  return  again,  saying  as  he  did 
so,  that  “  he  wished  her  to  examine  that — that  the  hey  of  Mrs. 
Broom's  ward  was  there  f  but  as  she  supposed  it  contained  some 
directions  about  her  sister’s  room  or  treatment,  she  did  not  open 
the  envelope  for  some  time,  but  sat  and  talked  with  her  sister ; 
that  in  this  interview  with  her  sister,  she  wept  so  bitterly  that  she 
annoyed  her,  and  she  asked  witness  what  was  the  matter,  when 
she  told  her  sister  that  the  Doctor  had  convinced  her  of  the  im¬ 
practicability  of  taking  her  away  then ;  that  she  then  took  her 
sister  to  the  door  of  her  ward  and  gave  her  to  an  attendant,  and 
returned  to  her  room  and  opened  the  envelope,  which  contained 
an  infamous  proposal ;  that  as  soon  as  she  read  it  she  was  so 
angry  she  tore  it  in  pieces  and  threw  it  on  the  floor,  but  she  re¬ 
members  the  contents,  and  the  following  is  the  tenor  of  the  note  : 
“An  appreciative  friend,  who  deeply  sympathizes  with  you  in  your 
trouble,  wishes  to  know  if  his  company  will  be  agreeable  after 
retiring  hours that  immediately  on  reading  the  note  she  was 
determined  to  take  her  sister  awray,  and  to  stay  with  her  until 
she  could  do  so;  that  she  is  not  positive,  but  thinks  that  the  note 
was  signed  “A.  M.  F.” 

That  she  wrote  an  answer — as  “she  felt  that  she  could  not  look 
at  him” — the  substance  of  -which  answer  is  attached  to  her  depo- 


sition,  and  is  an  indignant  reply,  accusing  him  of  cruelty,  inform¬ 
ing  him  that  he  had  misjudged  her,  but  that  she  would  let  it 
pass — and  saying  that  if  she  was  compelled  to  remain  on  account 
of  her  sister,  she  demanded  employment  or  a  situation  while  she 
remained ;  that  she  cannot  remember  just  how  everything  took 
place  on  this  occasion,  as  she  was  weeping  and  excited,  but  says 
that  when  the  Doctor  returned  after  she  had  torn  up  the  note  he 
noticed  the  pieces  and  said,  awhat  is  this”;  that  she  told  him 
“  that  it  was  that  infamous  note  ”  ;  that  she  asked  him  what  there 
was  in  her  appearance  that  induced  him  to  so  offend  her,  and  he 
said  “  oh,  nothing,  I  merely  took  it  at  a  venture  ”  ;  that  he  picked 
up  a  part  of  them  and  soon  after  left  the  room ;  that  she  then  felt 
it  would  be  safer  for  her  sister  to  be  with  her,  as  she  did  not  want 
to  be  alone,  and  went  to  the  ward  for  her  sister,  but,  finding  her 
sleeping  soundly,  she  returned  to  her  room,  locked  the  door,  and 
stayed  there  alone ;  that  in  the  morning  her  sister  was  brought  to 
her  room,  and  remained  with  her  while  she  was  at  the  hospital. 

That  Monday  morning  she  went  down  to  Mrs.  Grant’s,  and 
also  visited  Mrs.  Grant  almost  daily  for  a  week,  about  which  time, 
or  in  the  first  week  in  August,  she  left  for  Buffalo  with  her  sister ; 
that  during  the  week  she  had  conversation  with  Mrs.  Grant  in 
relation  to  the  insult  offered  her  by  the  Doctor,  and  that  she  went 
purposely  to  see  Mrs.  Grant  upon  the  subject ;  that  she  and  her 
sister  came  directly  to  Buffalo,  after  leaving  the  hospital,  and  that, 
since  her  return  to  Buffalo,  her  sister  has  so  improved  that  she  is 
about  the  house — assists  about  the  house  in  work,  and  has  never, 
during  the  time  she  was  staying  with  her  at  the  hospital  or  since, 
manifested  a  disposition  to  injure  herself  or  others,  or  been  vio¬ 
lent  in  her  manner  or  language. 

The  chairman  of  the  committee,  in  order  to  learn  as  much  of 

'  r 

the  history  of  this  witness  as  might  appear  necessary  to  an  under¬ 
standing  of  her  character,  inquired  at  considerable  length  of  her 
family  history — where  she  had  worked  and  her  means  of  support, 
and  the  circumstances  of  her  coming  to  Illinois.  Her  answers  to 
all  these  questions  seem  candid  and  reasonable,  and  appear  in  her 
testimony. 

The  witness  was  subjected  to  a  rigid  and  lengthy  cross-exami¬ 
nation  ;  and  even  a  professional  reader,  it  is  believed,  will  be 
unable  to  find  in  the  testimony  itself  any  contradictions  or  im¬ 
probabilities.  She  was  called  upon  to  write  out  and  have  attached 


76 


to  her  deposition  copies  of  the  note  she  received  from  the  Doctor, 

and  her  answer.  This  she  did ;  and  in  her  cross-examination  she 

* 

states,  that  although  she  remembers  his  note  very  distinctly,  she 
only  remembers  the  substance  of  her  answer — but  she  does  re¬ 
member  that  the  moment  she  read  his  note  she  resolved  to  remove 
her  sister  as  soon  as  possible,  and  to  stay  with  her  until  she  could 
do  so ;  and  on  that  account,  and  fearing  that  the  Doctor  might 
attempt  to  thwart  her  purposes,  her  answer  was  more  tame  than 
it  would  otherwise  have  been. 

It  cannot  escape  the  notice  of  any  one  who  reads  the  testimony 
of  this  witness  that  she  swears  that  on  the  next  day  after  the  insult 
was  offered  her,  she  wrote  to  her  brother-in-law  in  Chicago,  con¬ 
cerning  it,  and  also  informed  Mrs.  Dr.  Grant  of  Jacksonville,  and 
others,  of  the  matter,  and  advised  with  them  concerning  her  dut}'. 
They  invited  her  to  stay  with  them  until  her  sister  was  ready  to 
leave,  but  as  she  feared,  if  she  left  the  hospital  before  her  sister 
was  ready,  the  Doctor  might  thwart  her  purposes  to  remove  her, 
and  as  her  sister  was  staying  in  the  same  room  with  her,  the  wit¬ 
ness  had  no  fear  of  being  again  insulted  by  him,  and  adhered  to 
her  purpose  of  staying  with  her  sister  until  she  could  get  her 
away.  And  on  this  account  she  did  remain  nearly  a  week,  and  as 
a  reward  for  her  persistent  determination  she  succeeded  in  seeing 
her  sister  safely  reach  home  and  enjoy  comparative  health  and 
happiness. 

Another  noticeable  fact  is,  that  none  of  the  several  respectable 
persons  residing  in  this  State,  whose  names  and  residence  are 
given,  and  who  are  acquainted  with  this  witness,  have  been  pro¬ 
duced  by  Dr.  McFarland,  to  even  suggest  a  doubt  against  her 
character.  In  the  absence,  therefore,  of  any  thing  contradictory 
or  suspicious  in  her  testimony — in  the  absence  of  any  contradic¬ 
tory  evidence  in  relation  to  any  conversations  of  her  with  other 
persons  on  the  subject — in  the  absence  of  any  conceivable  motive 
on  her  part  to  manufacture  this  evidence,  and  in  the  absence  of 
language  likely  to  be  selected  by  her  in  the  note  itself  ,  the  convic¬ 
tion  is  irresistible  that  her  testimony  is  true.  The  testimony 
shows  that  the  character  of  this  witness  is  irreproachable  at  home, 
and  she  has  challenged  investigation  of  it  here.  She  was  not  a 
willing  witness,  for  after  she  had  succeeded  in  getting  her  sister 
home  she  declined  to  write  to  her  friends  here  on  the  subject,  and 
it  was  not  until  the  committee  required  her  testimony,  that  she 
consented  to  make  her  affidavit. 


I 


77 

Against  this  overwhelming  testimony  the  moral  character  of 
Dr.  McFarland  is  interposed.  Several  gentlemen  in  New  Hamp¬ 
shire  and  Jacksonville  have  testified  that  he  has  the  reputation  of 
being  a  man  of  good  moral  character.  This  testimony  the  com¬ 
mittee  fully  believe,  but  in  the  opinion  of  the  committee  testimony 
of  character  cannot  prevail  against  such  unquestionable  proof  of 
facts ;  and  however  painful  and  humiliating  it  may  be  to  us,  as 
citizens,  to  believe  a  man  who  occupies  such  a  position  should  be 
guilty  of  such  grave  improprieties,  it  is  nevertheless  our  plain  duty 
to  express  the  opinion  of  his  guilt  which  the  evidence  clearly 
shows. 

CONCLUSION. 

In  transmitting  all  the  evidence,  schedules  and  exhibits,  in  the 
possession  of  the  committee,  and  without  volunteering  any  advice 
to  your  Excellency,  touching  the  propriety  of  the  publication  of 
the  evidence,  they  would  suggest  that  there  might  be  serious 
objections  on  the  part  of  their  friends  to  the  publication  of  the 
names  of  patients  in  the  hospital.  It  may  be  a  false  pride  or  deli¬ 
cacy  which  many  people  have  on  this  subject,  yet  it  is  well  known 
to  those  most  acquainted  with  the  families  of  insane  persons,  that 
there  is  a  strong  inclination  to  withhold  or  conceal  the  fact  of  the 
mental  infirmity  of  their  relatives. 

In  view  of  this  fact,  the  committee  have  prepared  a  special 
record,  which  contains  the  names  of  all  patients  in  the  hospital  on 
the  24th  day  of  July  last,  and  the  testimony  of  certain  medical 
witnesses  in  relation  to  the  condition  of  such  as  were  the  subjects 
of  special  investigation.  Exhibits  A,  B,  C,  D,  E,  F,  and  G,  con¬ 
tain  the  names  of  patients  and  employees  in  the  hospital  at  differ¬ 
ent  periods,  lists  of  admissions  and  discharges  at  different  times, 
and  other  matters  relating  thereto,  which  are  not  necessary  to  a 
full  understanding  of  the  evidence,  as  such  portions  of  these  exhi¬ 
bits,  as  appeared  necessary  for  that  purpose,  have  been  incorpora¬ 
ted  in  the  evidence.  Statistical  information  on  different  subjects 
connected  with  the  investigation,  has  been  arranged  in  schedules, 
and  inserted  in  the  journal  as  a  part  of  the  evidence.  A  publica¬ 
tion  of  the  investigation  could,  if  desired,  be  made  without  the 
exhibits  or  special  record  referred  to. 

The  committee  has  intended  to  give  the  most  ample  opportuni¬ 
ty  for  explanation  and  defense  against  complaints  and  charges 


78 


made  against  the  management  of  the  hospital.  That  no  injustice 
should  be  done  to  the  institution  or  its  officers,  for  the  want  of  any 
proper  information  or  evidence,  the  sessions  ot  the  committee  have 
been  multiplied,  and  a  report  postponed  from  time  to  time  to 
accommodate  the  trustees  and  superintendents. 

In  July  last  an  application  was  made  to  allow  the  superinten¬ 
dent  to  be  sworn  as  a  witness,  and  at  tlieir  meeting  in  Blooming¬ 
ton, -on  the  12th  ultimo,  the  committee  refused  the  application, 
because  the  most,  if  not  all,  of  the  testimony  against  him  was,  if 
false,  susceptible  of  explanation  or  denial,  without  his  testimony, 
by  other  witnesses,  many  of  whose  names  had  been  pointed  out ; 
,and  because  to  allow  him  to  be  sworn,  and  especially  under  such 
circumstances,  in  his  own  behalf,  would  be  in  violation  of  a  well 
established  practice  in  such  cases.  In  the  opinion  of  the  commit¬ 
tee,  the  late  law,  allowing  parties  in  civil  cases  to  be  sworn  as  wit¬ 
nesses,  afforded  no  good  reason  for  a  departure  ffrom  the  uniform 
practice  of  investigating  committees. 

The  testimony  was  finally  closed  on  the  30th  ultimo,  and  after 
hearing  the  argument  of  the  counsel,  and  carefully  reviewing  and 
considering  the  evidence,  the  committee  unanimously  resolved  that 
it  seemed  their  imperative  duty  to  recommend  an  immediate 
/^change  in  the  office  of  superintendent,  and  the  correction  of  abuses 
shown  to  exist.  A  copy  of  the  communication,  addressed  by  the 
v  committee  to  the  trustees  on  this  subject,  will  be  found  in  the 
'  journal  of  the  committee.  By  reference  to  it,  it  will  be  noticed 
that  the  committee  express  the  opinion,  that  the  present  attendants, 
and  others  now  having  charge  of  the  attendants,  (with  one  or  two 
exceptions)  appear  to  be  well  adapted  to  the  service ;  and  that,  as 
the  most  of  them  are  shown  from  the  records  to  have  been  but 
recently  employed,  there  is  no  reason  to  believe  they  have  been 
connected  with  the  abuses  of  patients,  which  it  is  the  object  of  this 
investigation  to  correct.  And  in  this  connection,  the  committee 
take  pleasure  in  tendering  their  grateful  acknowledgments  to  all 
the  officers  and  employees,  for  courtesies  extended  to  its  mem¬ 
bers,  individually,  wdiile  there  in  July. 

The  committee,  throughout  the  investigation,  has  endeavored  to 
jealously  guard  the  true  interests  of  the  institution — to  neither  shield 
the  guilty  nor  magnify  their  faults — but  to  carefully  ascertain,  as  far 
as  possible,  the  truth,  and  when  ascertained,  to  fearlessly  declare 
it.  They  have  believed,  and  still  believe,  that  in  view  of  a  late 


79 


public  distrust  in  its  management,  justice  to  all  persons  officially 
connected  with  it,  as  well  as  the  patients,  demanded  a  thorough 
investigation,  to  the  end  that  if  complaints  so  commonly  made 
were  without  foundation,  the  officers  might  be  vindicated,  and.  if 
true,  they  might  be  dismissed ;  and  the  committee  do  not  at  all 
sympathize  with  the  feelings,  very  naturally  entertained,  by  many 
persons  residing  in  the  vicinity  of  our  state  institutions,  that  they 
who  listen  to  complaints  or  promptly  investigate  them,  are  ene. 
mies  to  the  institution.  Such  are  its  true  friends. 

A  fair  and  impartial  investigation  never  injures  the  innocent^ 
but  is  frequently  the  means  of  their  vindication,  and  a  restoration 
of  public  confidence  where  that  confidence  has  been  causeless¬ 
ly  impaired.  Public  confidence  is  the  very  life  of  this  institu¬ 
tion.  Without  it  the  hospital  must  be  abandoned  for  want  of 
support,  and  the  hundreds  and  thousands  of  the  poor  and  unfortu¬ 
nate  insane  of  our  state  denied  its  benefits,  and  turned  out,  many 
of  them,  to  languish  in  jails,- and  alms-houses,  and  private  fami¬ 
lies,  without  hope,  on  their  onward  march  to  welcome  graves. 

The  committee  have  also  believed,  and  still  believe,  that  this 
institution,  notwithstanding  certain  irregularities  and  abuses  dis¬ 
closed  in  the  evidence,  has  been  of  untold  blessings  to  the  state. 
Neither  the  interest  or  ambition  of  any  man  or  class  of  men 
should  be  allowed  to  stand  in  the  way  of  its  continued  prosperity 
and  usefulness.  Honorable  watchfulness,  and  the  fostering  care 
of  the  executive  and  legislative  departments  of  the  state,  are  indis¬ 
pensably  necessary  to  its  success.  The  million  of  dollars  already 
expended  upon  it  will  never  be  regretted,  so  long  as  it  discharges 
its  appropriate  functions,  and  alleviates,  instead  of  increasing, 
human  woes. 

In  relation  to  the  “other”  institutions  mentioned  in  the  appoint¬ 
ment  of  the  committee,  no  complaints  against  their  management 
have  reached  the  committee,  but  as  the  resolutions  require  an  ex¬ 
amination  into  their  “financial  and  general  management,”  such 
examination  has  been  carefully  made,  and  a  supplementary  report- 
in  respect  to  them  will  be  submitted  to  your  excellency  within  a 
few  days. 

Before  concluding  this  report  upon  the  Hospital  for  the  Insane, 
the  committee  would  call  your  Excellency’s  attention  to  some' 
facts  connected  with  the  future  provision  for  the  insane  of  the 
state.  The  principal  object  in  view,  in  the  establishment  of  this 


so 


institution,  was  to  provide  a  hospital  for  the  treatment  of  curable 
cases ,  and  not  an  asylum  for  incurables.  It  would  probably  have 
been  better  if  this  object  had  been  rigidly  carried  out,  and  no 
additions  made  to  the  buildings  when  its  capacity  reached  250,  as 
originally  contemplated ;  for  it  has  been  seriously  questioned,  by 
those  having  great  experience,  whether  the  care  of  about  that 
number  is  not  as  great  a  tax  upon  the  mental  and  physical 
capacities  as  one  man  is  capable  of  sustaining ;  and  beside,  had 
this  course  been  pursued,  it  is  probable  that  before  this  time  a 
separate  asylum  for  incurables  would  have  been  erected,  and  thus 
have  avoided  combining  two  institutions  in  one ;  for  the  hospital 
has  practically  been  more  an  asylum  than  a  hospital.  More  than 
"one-half  who  have  ever  been  admitted,  have  been  discharged  as 
incurable,  and  from  three-fifths  to  one-half  now  there  are  of 
that  class. 

\ 

There  can  be  no  doubt  that  this  state  is  much  behind  many  ot 
her  sister  states  in  its  provision  for  the  insane,  although  it  is 
impossible  to  ascertain  precisely  the  number  of  insane  in  the  state. 
The  superintendent  of  the  federal  census,  taken  in  1860,  says  the 
\  greatest  difficulty  in  ascertaining  the  number  of  insane  in  the 
country,  is  a  “  sensitiveness  to  public  exposure  which  widely 
"  exists  among  persons  who  look  upon  mental  alienation  in  a  false 
light,”  and  therefore,  they  often  conceal  a  knowledge  of  it  from 
the  census  taker.  The  best  proof  of  this  difficulty  may  be  found  in 
the  fact,  that  according  to  that  census,  Illinois  is  reported  as  liav- 
ing  but  683  insane,  when  the  records  of  the  hospital  show  that 
prior  to  that  time  about  half  that  number  have  actually  been  dis¬ 
charged  from  the  hospital  as  incurable. 

The  present  estimate,  made  by  those  who  have  given  the  most 
attention  to  these  statistics  is,  that  in  the  United  States  about  one 
\5>  to  every  nine  hundred  inhabitants  is  insane.  If  this  estimate  is 
correct,  and  Illinois  has  the  same  proportion  of  insane  as  other 
states,  it  will  be  seen  that  out  of  our  population  in  1860  of 
1,711,951,  there  were  in  this  state  about  1,900  insane  persons  ; 
and  in  1865,  out  of  a  population  of  2,141,510  there  were  2,369  ; 
and  allowing  the  same  increase  in  population  from  1865  to  1867 
as  there  was  between  1860  and  1865,  our  population  is  now 
2,313,332,  and  of  that  number  2,570  are  insane.  Of  these,  there 
were  336  in  hospital  in  July,  leaving  2,234  outside  of  the  hospital, 


81 


two-thirds  of  which  latter  number  are  supposed  to  be  fit  subjects 
for  treatment  and  care  in  a  hospital  or  asylum. 

After  making  allowance  for  over-estimates  on  this  subject,  and 
deducting  500  who  will  soon  be  in  the  hospital,  there  will  prob¬ 
ably  be  at  least  1,500  who  will  be  unprovided  for.  Their  condi¬ 
tion  is  truly  deplorable.  They  are  either  confined  in  jails  and 
alms-houses,  or  chained  in  untenantable  and  unfit  places,  or  wan¬ 
der  about  the  country  exposing  the  lives  and  property  of  citizens, 
and  presenting  in  their  persons  objects  of  supreme  pity. 

What  shall  be  done  for  them  by  the  state,  is  a  question  which 
demands  most  serious  consideration.  Our  pride  at  what  we  have 
already  done  will  be  somewhat  lessened  when  we  compare 
figures  with  some  other  states.  Massachusetts  has  five  institu- 
tions,  with  a  capacity  for  accommodation  of  1,850  ;  Pennsylvania 
five,  capacity  1,550  ;  New  York  five,  capacity  2,545  ;  Ohio  four, 
capacity  1,230;  Kentucky  two,  capacity  750;  Virginia  (including 
West  Virginia)  three,  capacity  900  ;  Connecticut  two,  capacity. 
700.  All  of  these  are  incorporations,  but  some  of  them  not 
under  state  control. 

That  additional  provisions  for  the  insane  of  our  state  must  soon 
be  made,  seems  to  be  beyond  doubt ;  and  that  in  making  such  pro¬ 
vision,  regard  should  be  had  to  the  separation  of  curable  from 
incurable  cases,  seems  probable. 

As  the  committee  has  no  desire  on  this  subject,  except  than  to 
call  attention  to  the  subject  in  connection  with  the  pressing  wants 
which  are  found  in  almost  every  county  in  the  state,  it  parts  with 
the  subject  of  the  insane  of  the  state  with  the  anxious  wish  and 
confident  hope  that  our  noble  state  will  “  generously  provide  for 
her  own.” 

ALLEN  C.  FULLER, 
ANDREW  J.  HUNTER, 
ELMER  BALDWIN, 

T.  B.  WAKEMAN, 

JOHN  B.  RICKS. 

December  2,  1867. 


r\ 


v 


\ 


I 

/ 


—ii 


OTHER  STATE  INSTITUTIONS. 


Eelvidere,  December  9,  1868. 
His  Excellency,  Governor  Oglesby,  Springfield,  Illinois  : 

Sir  :  Referring  to  onr  report  of  December  1,  1867,  concerning 
the  management  of  the  Hospital  for  the  Insane,  I  now  have  the 
honor  herewith  to  transmit  the  report  of  the  committee  concern¬ 
ing  the  “  financial  and  general  management  ”  of  the  “  Normal 
University,”  the  institutions  for  the  “  Education  of  the  Deaf  and 
Dumb,”  “  Idiots  and  Imbeciles”  and  the  “  Blind.” 

I  have  the  honor  to  remain,  very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

ALLEN  C.  FULLER, 
Chairman  of  Committee. 


NORMAL  UNIVERSITY. 


The  establishment  of  this  institution  grew  out  of  a  practical 
necessity.  It  did  not  originate  in  the  dreams  or  fancies  of  mere 
theorists,  for  the  necessity  of  such  institutions  had  been  felt 
elsewhere,  and  plans  to  meet  it  had  been  adopted  in  other  states. 
It  was,  therefore,  no  experiment;  and  the  earnest  educational 
men  of  the  state  well  knew  that  to  make  its  necessity  fully  felt 
here,  a  system  of  free  schools  must  also  be  adopted.  To  that  end 
they  labored ;  but,  prior  to  the  meeting  of  the  legislature  in  Jan- 


SB 


uary,  1854,  no  reliable  or  definite  expression  of  public  opinion 
had  been  obtained  on  the  subject. 

On  the  18th  of  February,  1851,  an  act  was  passed  providing 
for  the  election  of  a  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction,  and 
defining  his  duties.  General  advisory  care  of  common  schools 
was  committed  to  him ;  and,  among  the  specific  duties  enjoined 
upon  him,  he  was  required  to  report  a  bill  to  the  then  next  regu¬ 
lar  session  of  the  General  Assembly  for  a  system  of  free  school 
education  throughout  the  state ,  the  manner  or  means  for  the  sup¬ 
port  of  which  system  to  be  provided  for  by  a  uniform  ad  valorem 
tax  upon  property. 

In  pursuance  of  this  instruction,  a  bill  involving  that  principle 
was  reported,  and  on  the  15th  of  February,  1855,  became  a  law. 
Sections  45th,  67th,  and  70th  of  this  law  provide  for  the  opening 
and  maintenance  of  such  schools.  While  this  law  put  into  prac  - 
tical  operation  a  principle,  it  was  found  defective  in  attempting  to 
unite  what  are  known  as  the  “district”  and  “ township”  sys¬ 
tems.  At  the  session  of  1857,  the  whole  subject  was  again  before 
the  legislature;  and  after  a  full  discussion  and  consideration 
of  it,  the  House,  on  the  5th  of  February,  by  a  vote  of  sixty-eight 
to  five,  and  the  Senate,  on  the  11th  of  the  same  month,  by  a  vote 
of  sixteen  to  six,  changed  some  of  the  details  of  the  law  of  1855, 
and  reenacted  its  substantial  provisions.  Since  that  time  no 
attempt  has  been  made  to  repeal  this  law,  and  it  stands  upon  the 
statute  book  an  enduring  monument  of  the  wise  foresight  and 
public  spirit  of  the  people  of  the  state.  The  fundamental  and 
simple  principle  contained  in  it  is,  that  the'laxable  property  of  the 
state  is  of  right ,  and  as  a  matter  of  sound  public  policy ,  liable 
for  the  free  education  of  the  children  of  the  state. 

At  the  time  this  law  was  thus  decisively  endorsed,  there  were 
more  than  a  half  million  of  children  in  the  state  between  five  and 
twenty-one  years  of  age ;  and  as  an  additional  measure ,  in  har¬ 
mony  with  and  constituting  an  important  part  of  a  complete  sys¬ 
tem  of  common  school  education,  the  Senate,  on  the  4th  of  the 
same  month,  by  a  vote  of  seventeen  to  four,  and  the  House,  on 
the  16th,  by  a  vote  of  thirty-nine  to  twenty -five,  passed  the  act 
for  establishing  and  maintaining  a  normal  university. 

The  act  named  fourteen  persons  as  corporators,  under  the  name 
and  style  of  “  The  Board  of  Education  of  the  State  of  Illinois 
made  the  superintendent  of  public  instruction  an  ex-officio  mem- 


84 

✓ 

ber  and  secretary  of  the  board  ;  required  him  to  report  to  the  legis¬ 
lature  the  “  condition  and  expenditures,”  and  such  further  infor¬ 
mation  as  the  board  or  legislature  might  direct ;  and  declared  five 
members  of  the  board  a  quorum  for  the  transaction  of  business. 

The  board  was  authorized  to  fix  the  permanent  location  of  the 
university  at  the  place  where  the  most  “favorable  inducements” 
should  be  offered  for  that  purpose,  provided,  that  the  location 
should  not  be  “  difficult  of  access,”  or  “  detrimental  ”  to  the  wel¬ 
fare  and  prosperity  of  the  same. 

The  object  of  said  university  was  declared  to  be,  to  qualify 
teachers  for  the  common  schools  of  the  state,  by  imparting 
instruction  in  the  art  of  teaching  in  all  branches  of  study  which 
pertain  to  a  common  school  education  ;  in  the  elements  of  the  nat¬ 
ural  sciences,  including  agricultural  chemistry,  animal  and  vege¬ 
table  physiology;  in  the  fundamental  laws  of  the  United  States 
and  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  in  regard  to  the  rights  and  duties  of 
citizens,  and  such  other  studies  as  the  board  of  education  might 
from  time  to  time  prescribe. 

Each  county  in  the  state  was  declared  entitled  to  gratuitous 
instruction  for  one  pupil  in  said  university,  and  each  representa¬ 
tive  district  for  a  number  of  pupils  equal  to  the  number  of  repre¬ 
sentatives  in  said  district.  The  board  was  authorized  to  appoint 
necessary  teachers;  fix  their  compensation,  and  to  “recognize 
auxiliary  institutions  ”  “when  deemed practicable, provided  such 
auxiliary  institutions  shoidd  not  receive  any  app  ropriation  from 
the  treasury ,  or  the  seminary  or  university  fund”  Discretionary 
power  was  given  to  require  applicants  to  sign  an  agreement  that 
they  would  teach  in  the  public  schools  of  the  state  if  required  ; 
and  in  case  the  applicant  declined  to  sign  such  an  agreement,  the 
board  was  authorized  to  require  payment  for  their  tuition. 

For  the  maintenance  of  the  university,  the  interest  of  the  uni¬ 
versity  (college)  and  seminary  funds,  or  such  part  as  might  be 
found  necessary,  were  appropriated  ;  but  no  part  of  such  interest 
should  be  applied  to  the  purchase  of  sites,  or  for  buildings  of  said 
university. 

The  only  important  amendment  made  to  the  original  law  was 
made  in  February,  1861,  in  relation  to  representation ;  and  pro¬ 
vides  that  each  county  shall  be  entitled  to  gratuitous  instruction 
for  two  pupils  instead  of  one ;  and  the  board  of  education  has 
authorized  its  president,  in  case  any  county  or  district  neglects,  to 


85 


make  the  appointments  of  pupils  to  which  it  may  be  entitled,  to 
fill  such  vacancies. 

No  appropriation  was  made  in  the  act  of  1857  for  the  purchase 
of  lands  or  building.  “  Favorable  inducements  ”  to  secure  its 
location  were  invited,  and  there  is  no  intimation  that  the  state  con¬ 
templated  making  any  appropriation  thereafter  for  that  purpose. 
Peoria  and  Bloomington  became  the  principal  competitors  for  its 
location ;  and  finally,  the  location  was  secured  at  Normal,  near 
the  city  of  Bloomington,  upon  a  subscription  in  money  and  prop¬ 
erty  estimated  at  $103,575.  Seventy  thousand  dollars  of  this  was 
subscribed  by  McLean  county,  payable  out  of  the  sales  of  her 
swamp  lands  ;  nine  thousand  two  hundred  dollars  was  subscribed 
in  lands  and  town  lots,  and  eleven  hundred  dollars  in  tree  and 
ornamental  planting,  and  the  balance — $23,275 — in  individual 
subscriptions — making  the  above  total  of  $103,575. 

Beside  this  subscription,  there  were  donated  one  hundred  and 
fifty-seven  acres  of  very  beautiful  land,  as  a  site ;  sixty  acres  of 
which  now  constitute  the  university  grounds  proper,  and  the 
ninety-seven  acres  lying  immediately  adjoining.  All  lands  and 
town  lots  donated  are  still  owned  by  the  university. 

On  the  faith  of  the  above  subscriptions  and  donations,  the  erec¬ 
tion  of  the  building  was  commenced  in  1857 ;  and  after  various 
embarrassments,  delays  and  sacrifices  on  the  part  of  the  public- 
spirited  and  liberal  citizens,  incident  to  most  public  enterprises, 
the  building  was  completed  and  furnished  in  1861,  at  an  expense 
of  about  $182,000.  A  normal  school,  however,  was  opened  in 
the  city  of  Bloomington  in  October,  1857.  When  the  building 
was  completed,  in  1861,  there  had  been  no  expenditure  by  the 
state  in  its  construction  or  equipment.  The  board  was  in  debt, 
and  various  liens  for  work  and  materials  were  impending  over  it. 
Under  these  circumstances,  the  state  came  to  the  relief  of  the 
board  ;  but  instead  of  making  appropriations  directly ,  it  gave  the 
needed  relief  by  indirection.  Under  section  six  of  the  act  of 
congress  of  April  18th,  1818,  entitled,  “An  act  to  enable  the 
Illinois  territory  to  form  a  constitution  and  state  government,  and 
for  the  admission  of  such  state  into  the  Union  on  an  equal  footing 
with  the  original  states,”  it  was  proposed  to  the  people  of  the 
territory,  in  case  of  their  admission  as  a  state,  that  section  number 
sixteen,  in  every  township,  and  when  such  section  had  been  sold 
or  otherwise  disposed  of,  other  lands  equivalent  thereto,  should  be 


86 


granted  to  the  state ,  for  the  use  of  the  inhabitants  of  such  town¬ 
ships  for  the  use  of  schools  ;  that  five  per  cent,  of  the  net  pro¬ 
ceeds  of  the  lands  lying  within  the  state,  and  which  should  be 
sold  by  the  federal  government  after  January  1st,  1819,  should  be 
reserved  for  the  following  purposes,  viz  :  two-fifths  to  be  disbursed 
under  the  direction  of  congress,  in  making  roads  leading  to  the 
state,  and  the  residue  to  be  appropriated  by  the  legislature  of  said 
state  for  the  encouragement  of  learning ,  of  which,  one-sixth  part 
should  be  exclusively  bestowed  upon  a  college  or  university  ;  that 
thirty-six  sections,  or  one  entire  township,  together  with  the  one- 
sixth  above  mentioned,  should  be  reserved  for  the  use  of  a  semi¬ 
nary  of  learning ,  and  vested  in  the  legislature  of  the  state,  to  be 
appropriated  solely  to  the  use  of  such  seminary  by  the  legislature. 

These  propositions  wore  accepted  by  the  people,  in  convention 
assembled,  on  the  26tli  of  August,  1818  ;  and  from  these  sources 
the  State  realized,  prior  to  Dec.  1,  1856,  $1,054,365  06.  Receiv¬ 
ing  this  money  for  specific  purposes,  it  was  supposed  by  many 
that  the  faith  of  the  State  was  pledged  to  preserve  the  principal 
intact ;  but  as  a  matter  of  fact,  the  money  was  used  by  the  state 
for  revenue  purposes,  while  as  a  matter  of  book-keeping,  it  appears, 
from  the  Auditor’s  report  of  Dec.  1,  1856,  that  the  school,  college 
(university),  and  seminary  funds  were  credited  by  the  surplus  reve¬ 
nue  fund,  as  follows : 

School  fund .  $884,717  41 

College .  109,808  93 

Seminary .  59,838  72 

$1,054,365  06 

The  college  and  seminary  funds  being  at  that  time  $169,647  65, 
and  the  annual  interest  at  six  per  cent,  being  only  appropriated 
for  the  “  maintenance  ”  of  the  university,  there  was  really  but 
$10,178  85  set  apart  annually  for  that  purpose ;  and  one-sixth  of 
one  per  cent,  of  this  interest  had  in  1839  been  appropriated  for  the 
education  of  the  deaf  and  dumb. 

The  principal  of  the  college  fund  was  reported  by  the  auditor, 
Dec.  1,  1860,  to  amount  to  $122,607  54  ;  and  it  was  ascertained 
that  the  interest  on  the  principal  to  Jan.  1,  1857,  amounted  to  the 
sum  of  $98,956  82.  On  the  14th  of  February,  1861,  the  legisla¬ 
ture,  by  an  act  of  that  date,  appropriated  $65,000  of  this  inter¬ 
est  to  the  university,  and  transferred  the  remaining  $33,956  82  to 


87 


the  above  $122,607  54,  and  declared  it  to  be  a  part  of  the  same, 
thus  increasing  the  principal  to  $156,564  36.  The  seminary  fund 
still  remaining  $59,838  72,  the  interest  on  this  and  the  college 
fund,  at  six  per  cent.,  constitutes  the  income  received  for  the  sup 
port  of  this  school. 

By  this  appropriation  of  $65,000  in  February,  1861,  the 
most  pressing  claims  against  the  building  were  provided  for,  and 
it  was  supposed  that  no  further  demands  upon  the  treasury  would 
be  necessary;  but  as  the  third  section  of  this  law  of  1861,  pro¬ 
hibited  the  board  from  selling  or  incumbering  any  of  the  property 
then  owned  by  the  board,  there  were  in  1865  additional  unpaid 
mechanics’  liens  upon  the  property  to  the  amount  of  $32,000,  which 
had  to  be  provided  for  to  save  the  property  ;  and  on  the  14th  of 
February,  1865,  an  appropriation  of  that  amount  was  made. 

On  the  28th  of  February,  1867,  the  legislature  declared  the 
university  and  all  its  property  a  state  institution,  and  that  the 
board  of  education  held  the  same  in  trust  for  the  state.  This  act 
authorized  the  board  to  sell  and  dispose  of  the  outlands  and  lots 
standing  in  the  name  of  the  board,  lying  in  the  counties  of  Jack- 
son,  Woodford,  and  McLean,  except  the  site  of  the  university, 
and  the  farm  of  one  hundred  acres  in  its  immediate  vicinity ;  and 
to  appropriate  the  proceeds  thereof  towards  refunding  the  follow¬ 
ing  appropriations,  to-wit :  $1,500  to  purchase  a  new  boiler  for 
warming  the  building;  $1,500  annually,  as  salary  of  the  curator 
of  the  Museum  of  the  Illinois  Historical  Society ;  and  $1,000 
annually  for  expenses  in  improving  and  enhancing  the  value  of 
said  museum.  Three  thousand  dollars  was  also  appropriated,  for 
the  purpose  of  laying  out  and  ornamenting  the  site  of  the  univer¬ 
sity,  one-half  of  which  sum  shall  be  paid  each  year  for  two  years. 

The  State,  then,  has  appropriated,  for  lands  and  building, 
furniture  and  fixtures,  etc.,  $65,000  in  February,  1861;  $32,000 
in  February,  1865  ;  and  $5,500  in  February,  1867 — being  a  total 
of  $102,500.  For  this  it  owns  the  following  property:  1,500 
acres  of  land  in  Jackson  county  ;  forty  acres  in  Woodford  county; 
five  lots  in  Bloomington ;  two  lots  in  Normal,  and  157  acres  in 
McLean  county,  on  which  the  university  stands.  The  president 
of  the  board  estimates  the  value  of  this  property  as  follows  : 


33 


Jackson  county  lands .  $10,000  00 

Woodford  county  lands .  1,000  00 

McLean  county  lands .  55,000  00 

Town  lots .  1,000  00 

University  building,  furniture  and  fixtures .  200,000  00 


Total . $267,000  00 


The  university  stands  upon  a  beautiful  and  commanding  emi¬ 
nence,  near  the  crossing  of  the  Illinois  Central  and  Chicago  and 
St.  Louis  Railroads.  The  building,  above  the  basement — which 
is  built  of  heavy  blocks  of  Joliet  cut  stone,  is  of  brick,  three 
stories  high,  exclusive  of  the  basement.  It  is  156  feet  long  and 
100  feet  wide,  fronting  to  the  south,  the  central  part  of  the  north 
and  south  sides  falling  back  a  few  feet,  for  architectural  appear, 
ance,  and  affording  room  for  piazzas.  It  is  warmed  by  forcing 
steam  through  pipes,  leading  from  the  engine  rooms  to  various 
parts  of  the  building ;  and  its  ventilation,  with  the  exception  of 
a  part  of  the  west  end  of  the  basement  story,  appropriated  to 
water-closets,  appears  good.  The  basement,  10^  feet  in  the  clear, 
ia  occupied  as  a  janitor’s  house,  gymnasiums,  chemical  lecture 
rooms,  office  and  laboratory;  the  first  story,  fifteen  feet  in  the  clear, 
for  model  school  rooms,  dressing  rooms,  and  reception  room ;  the 
second  story,  sixteen  feet  in  the  clear,  for  an  assembly  and  class 
rooms  ;  and  the  third  story,  twenty  feet  in  the  clear,  for  a  museum 
of  the  State  Natural  History  Society,  society  rooms,  library,  and 
gallery  of  art,  and  normal  hall.  In  the  attic  are  two  large  rooms 
filled  with  water,  forced  there  from  cisterns  in  the  rear,  by  the 
steam  engine  in  the  basement.  Water-pipes  run  from  this  reser¬ 
voir  to  various  parts  of  the  building,  by  means  of  which  the  water 
can  be  instantly  used  to  flood  the  halls  and  rooms  in  case  of  fire. 

It  appears  to  be  well  arranged  for  the  purposes  designed,  and  is 
of  imposing  appearance.  Is  is  claimed  to  be  the  best  normal 
school  building  in  this  country. 

The  board  of  education  in  their  report  of  Dec.  14,  1865,  state 
the  total  amount  expended  for  buildings,  fixtures,  apparatus  and 
furniture,  to  be  $190,000.  It  appears,  from  a  report  made  by 
the  committee  on  state  institutions  to  the  House,  on  the  15th  of 
February,  1865,  that  of  the  total  subscription  of  $103,575, 
above  referred  to,  $93,795  of  this  was  subscribed  by  McLean 
county  and  citizens  of  that  county,  payable  in  money ;  and  that  of 
this  latter  amount  $91,465  was  actually  paid. 


When  it  is  remembered  that  a  general  financial  disaster  swept 
over  the  country  during  the  erection  of  the  building,  it  is  not  sur¬ 
prising  that  losses  to  the  amount  of  a  few  thousand  dollars  were 
sustained,  nor  that  there  should  have  been  delays  and  other  losses, 
arising  from  converting  property  subscribed  into  money. 

The  committee  do  not  regard  it  of  much  practical  importance 
to  attempt  now  to  ascertain  the  exact  cost  or  value  of  the  building, 
(unless  there  was  extravagance  or  dishonesty  in  expending  the 
money)  or  the  present  value  of  the  160  acres  of  land  surrounding 
the  building,  for  neither  the  sixty  acres  upon  which  the  university 
stands,  and  17  acres  of  the  97  acres  adjoining,  could  be  converted 
into  money,  even  if  the  state  desired  to  do  so.  The  title  to  this 
land  is  held  by  the  board,  subject  to  the  condition  of  its  being 
used  as  a  site  of  the  university,  and  might  be  forfeited  by  non 
user.  Although  these  two  pieces  cannot  be  diverted  to  any  other 
purpose,  yet,  in  the  opinion  of  the  committee,  it  might  be  a  good 
policy  to  sell  the  80  acres,  and  use  the  proceeds  as  an  endowment 
fund  ;  still,  whether  any  of  it  shall  be  sold  or  not,  the  entire  pro¬ 
perty,  as  it  now  stands,  is  an  honor  to  the  state,  and  may,  if  prop¬ 
erly  managed,  constitute  a  priceless  legacy  for  our  children. 

From  such  information  as  fcthe  committee  have  been  able  to 
obtain,  they  suppose  the  1,500  acres  of  land  in  Jackson  county 
are  worth  from  $8,000  to -$10,000  ;  that  the  40  acres  in  Woodford 
county  are  worth  $1,000  ;  and  that  the  town  lots  are  worth  $1,000 
— making  about  $12,000,  which  sum  may,  before  long,  be  realized 
by  a  sale  now  authorized  to  be  made. 

The  committee  have  discovered  no  evidence  of  extravagance  in 
the  furniture  or  fixtures.  The  recitation  and  assembly  rooms  are 
plainly  and  comfortably  furnished,  but  economy  seems  to  have 
been  very  rigidly  applied  to  other  rooms.  In  fact,  there  is  very 
little  furniture  in  them.  The  reception  room  is  generously  fur¬ 
nished  with  a  carpet  to  stand  ujpon,  but  no  chairs  or  benches  are 
provided  for  seats.  What  amount  has  been  expended  respectively 
for  furniture  and  fixtures,  or  in  the  construction  account,  the  com¬ 
mittee  were  unable  to  ascertain,  except  from  general  statements 
found  in  the  report  of  the  board,  without  examining  in  detail 
vouchers  on  file. 

It  appears  that  all  accounts,  before  being  paid,  are  presented  to 
the  board,  and  allowed,  and  an  order  is  then  drawn  by  the  presi¬ 
dent  of  the  board  on  the  treasurer.  The  account  kept  by  the 
—12 


•  90 


treasurer  is  a  mere  deposit  account  with  the  board.  The  superin¬ 
tendent  of  public  instruction  is  not,  as  secretary  of  the  board, 
necessarily  its  book-keeper.  In  fact,  his  residence  by  law  and  in 
fact  is  at  the  capital  of  the  state,  and  he  could  not,  if  he  were 
willing,  act  as  book-keeper.  The  proceedings  of  the  board  show 
the  accounts  allowed,  and  their  character,  but  the  committee  were 
surprised  to  be  informed  that  no  journal  and  ledger  were  kept. 
They  have  no  doubt  that  as  a  matter  of  history,  and  to  avoid  mis¬ 
takes,  a  journal  should  be  opened,  in  which  should  be  entered  all 
the  accounts  of  the  university,  from  its  commencement  to  the 
present  time,  and  posted  in  a  ledger,  under  appropriate  individual 
and  general  heads,  and  that  such  journal  and  ledger  should  be 
regularly  kept  hereafter.  The  expense  of  doing  this  will  be  small 
indeed  it  is  not  improbable  that  no  other  expenses  than  the  pur¬ 
chase  of  the  books  would  be  required,  and  that  pupils  in  the  nor¬ 
mal  department  might,  under  the  direction  of  some  one  of  the 
faculty,  profitably  devote  the  hour  each  day,  which  they  are  now 
required  to  teach  in  the  model  department,  to  opening  and  keep¬ 
ing  such  books,  and  thus,  in  fact,  be  benefited  by  obtaining  very 
useful  information  in  practical  book-keeping.* 

It  appears  from  an  abstract,  made  by  the  superintendent  of  pub¬ 
lic  instruction,  of  the  receipts  and  disbursements  by  the  treasurer 
for  1865  and  1866,  that  there  was  received  in  1866,  for  rent  of 
farm  and  rooms,  $267  33,  and  for  grass  sold,  $61 ;  and  $1,200 
was  paid  in  1866  for  insurance  on  $60,000  to  1871. 

A  statement  appears  in  the  journal  of  the  committee,  prepared 
by  Walter  M.  Hatch,  Esq.,  showing  that  policies  of  insurance  to 
the  amount  of  $60,000  have  been  issued,  which  expire  at  different 
dates  in  1871 ;  and  also  a  full  description  of  the  real  estate  owned 
by  the  state. 

It  is  not  proposed  here  to  dwell  at  length  upon  what  has  been 
accomplished  by  this  enterprise,  or  what  influence  it  has  exerted 
upon  the  educational  interests  of  the  state.  In  the  opinion  of  the 
committee  it  is  altogether  too  late  to  discuss  the  propositions  as  to 
whether  free  schools  are  a  blessing  to  the  people  of  this  state,  or 
whether  a  school  for  the  instruction  of  persons  in  the  art  of  teach¬ 
ing  is  a  necessary  part  of  a  complete  educational  system. 
These  propositions  are  of  the  past,  and  are  no  longer  open  ques- 

*  Note. — The  account  books  recommended  to  be  opened  and  kept,  have,  since  the 
meeting  of  the  committee,  been  provided,  as  appears  by  a  letter  to  the  chairman  of 
he  committee  from  the  superintendent  of  public  instruction. 


91 


tions.  To  argue  them  now,  would  be  no  less  a  waste  of  time  and 
labor,  than  to  attempt  to  prove  that  a  refined  and  educated  civili- 
zation  is  superior  to  barbarism,  or  that  skilled  labor  ora  disciplined 
and  cultivated  mind,  which  comprehends  the  origin  and  relation 
of  the  material  universe,  and  takes  hold  on  eternal  things,  is  supe¬ 
rior  to  unskilled  labor,  and  that  blank,  stolid  ignorance  which  looks 
out  upon  the  world  and  merely  wonders  what  it  all  means,  without 
a  thought  or  care  or  apprehension  of  anything  beyond  the  tempo¬ 
rary  satisfaction  of  physical  wants,  and  the  indulgence  of  untamed 
passions. 

It  is,  however,  of  importance  to  the  continued  support  of  the 
institution,  that  its  affairs  should  be  so  managed  as  to  entitle  it  to 
the  fostering  care  of  the  state,  and  that  the  people  of  the  state 
should  understand  the  general  facts,  and  have  confidence  in  its 


management. 


The  school  was  opened  in  rented  rooms,  in  October,  1857,  and 
has  been  in  operation  ten  years.  There  has  been  expended  by 
the  state,  in  its  maintenance,  $114,189  65,  by  way  of  interest  due 
on  the  college  and  seminary  funds,  as  follows : 


Interest  due 

4  4 
4  4 
4  4 
c  4 
4  4 
4  4 
4  4 
4  4 
4  4 


January, 

1858 

4  4 

1859 

4  4 

1860 

4  4 

1861 

4  4 

1862 

4  4 

1863 

4  4 

1864 

4  4 

1865 

4  4 

1866, 

4  4 

1867. 

$9,754  74 
9,821  44 
9,821  44 
11,281  04 
11,281  04 

12,445  99 

12,445  99 

12,445  99 

12,445  99 

12,445  99 


$114,189  65 

Or  an  average  annual  expenditure  of  $11,418  96. 

If  there  is  any  argument  or  proof  to  be  found  in  educational 
statistics,  in  this  state,  it  may  be  very  confidently  assumed  that 
this  small  annual  expense  will  be  most  willingly  paid  by  a  people 
who,  during  the  past  decade,  have  done  so  much  for  the  promo¬ 
tion  of  popular  education.  The  statistics  show  that  during  the 
past  ten  years,  the  two-mill  tax  has  amounted  to  $6,886,165,  and 
that  in  addition  to  this  over  $13,000,000  have  been  raised,  for 
various  school  purposes,  by  voluntary  local  taxation,  and  of  this 
latter  sum,  $2,789,335  was  raised  in  1866.  It  further  appears 
that  there  were  last  year  9,945  schools  in  the  state,  and  that  out 


92 


of  768,263  persons  between  the  ages  of  six  and  twenty-one  years, 
614,659  attended  schools,  and  that  there  were  17,279  teachers. 

A  cause  must  be  very  dear  to  the  heart  of  a  people,  which 
secures  such  a  tribute  during  ten  years,  and  that  time,  too,  cover¬ 
ing  a  period  of  terrible  civil  war,  which  called  fifteen  per  cent,  of 
their  number  to  the  field. 

The  following  tabular  statement  will  show  the  general  numeri¬ 
cal  results  of  the  university,  in  the  normal  department : 


Counties. 

Total  No.  Admitted, 

No.  in  Attendance. 

Counties. 

Total  No.  Admitted. 

No.  in  Attendance. 

Adams  . 

12 

2 

Jasper . .  ........ 

Alexander. . . 

7 

Jefferson . 

4 

Bond . . . 

6 

1 

.Tersev . 

3 

1 

Boone . . . 

13 

8 

Jo  Daviess . 

8 

4 

Brown . . . 

5 

3 

Johnson . . . 

4 

BnrAa.ii ...  . . . 

19 

1 

Kane  . . 

18 

2 

Calhoun . 

1 

1 

Kankakee . 

12 

7 

C  arm  11 . 

3 

1 

Kendall . 

10 

1 

Cass .  . . 

5 

1 

Knox . 

10 

3 

Champaign . 

34 

12) 

Lake . 

5 

2 

Christian . 

18 

LaSalle . 

49 

10 

Clla.rlc . 

6 

3 

Lawrence  . 

4 

Clay . 

6 

1 

Lee  . 

16 

1 

Clinton . 

4 

3 

Livingston  . 

18 

6 

Coles . 

20 

7 

Loo-an  . 

25 

13 

Cook . . 

16 

3 

Macon . 

14 

2 

Crawford . . . 

4 

1 

Macoupin . 

15 

2 

Cumberland . 

6 

Madison . 

14 

4 

DeKalb . 

14 

5 

Marion . 

20 

2 

DeWitt . 

38 

9 

Marshal] . 

10 

Douglas . 

4 

2 

Mason . 

15 

1 

DuPage . . . 

6 

Massac . t  . . 

h 

2 

Edgar  . 

6 

McDonough  . 

i 

13 

Edwards . 

McHenry . _ 

15 

5 

Effingham . 

7 

McLean . 

941 

60 

Fayette .  . . 

13 

4 

Menard . 

4 

1 

Ford . 

3 

3 

Mercer . 

K 

Franklin . 

Monroe . 

2 

2 

Fulton . 

28 

3 

Montgomery  _  t  .  .  , 

K 

1 

Gallatin . 

3 

Morgan  . 

A 

Greene . 

6 

1 

Moultrie . , 

O 

•  • 

Grundy  . 

8 

3 

(Vie . 

30 

A 

Hamilton . • . . 

8 

-'o''  . . •••••••• 

Peoria . 

60 

Q 

Hancock . 

15 

2 

Perry . 

1 

Hardin . , . 

Piatt  . 

9 

2 

Henderson . 

14 

Pike . 

4 

K 

Henry . 

10 

3 

Pope . 

Q 

9 

Iroquois . 

3 

1 

Pulaski . 

K 

Jackson . . . 

8 

•  • 

1  Putnam . 

35 

•  • 

9 

93 


Counties. 


Randolph. . , 
Richland  . . . 
Roek  Island 

Saline . 

Sangamon. . 
Schuyler  . . . 

Scott . 

Shelby . 

Stark  .... 
St.  Clair  . .  , 
Stephenson  , 
Tazewell. .  . 

Union . 

Vermilion  . . 


Total  No.  Admitted. 

No.  in  Attendance. 

Counties. 

Total  No.  Admitted. 

No.  in  Attendance. 

3 

•  • 

Wabash . 

•  • 

•  • 

•  • 

•  • 

Warren . 

16 

•  • 

15 

1 

Washington . 

16 

2 

3 

•  • 

Wayne . . . 

2 

•  • 

24 

1 

White- . 

9 

•  • 

15 

1 

Whiteside . 

8 

6 

8 

2 

Will . 

26 

4 

8 

1 

Williamson . 

3 

•  • 

6 

1 

Winnebago . 

15 

2 

9 

•  • 

Woodford . ,  . . . 

23 

4 

16 

5 

Counties  unknown . 

21 

•  • 

38 

18 

Other  States . 

40 

19 

8 

2 

4 

2 

Total . 

1468 

320 

The  average  attendance  per  pupil  has  been  about  fifteen  months. 
Number  of  graduates,  eighty-one. 

From  the  above  it  will  be  seen  that  there  have  been  1463  per¬ 
sons  instructed  in  the  art  of  teachings  and  that  320  were,  Nov.  26, 
1867,  in  the  normal  department.  It  is  estimated  that  in  addition 
to  those  who  enlisted  in  the  army,  from  three-quarters  to  seven- 
eighths  of  these  pupils  have  been  engaged  in  teaching  in  the 
schools  of  the  State ;  and  the  correspondence  on  file  most  clearly 
shows,  that  while  some  have  failed  for  want  of  natural  ability  or 
temperament,  these  normal  teachers  have  generally  ranked  higher 
than  other  teachers  and  have  been  acceptable  to  the  schools  and 
school  officers.  Among  the  many  evidences  of  this,  is  a  constantly 
increasing  demand  for  them  from  different  parts  of  the  State,  and 
that,  too,  greatly  beyond  the  supply. 

"Under  the  sixth  section  of  the  act  of  incorporation,  authorizing 
the  board  to  tc  recognize  ”  auxiliary  institutions,  when  deemed 
“  practicable,”  provided  that  such  auxiliary  institutions  should  not 
receive  any  appropriations  from  the  treasury,  or  seminary,  or  uni¬ 
versity  fund — there  has  been  established  what  is  called  a  model 
school.  This  school  is  divided  into  four  grades — the  high,  gram¬ 
mar,  intermediate,  and  primary  schools,  each  of  which  is  under 
the  charge  of  a  principal,  specially  employed  for  that  purpose . 


94 


These  teachers  are  assisted  in  part  by  permanent  teachers,  and  in 
part  by  pupils  of  the  normal  school — every  pupil  in  the  normal 
school  being  required  to  teach  one  hour  each  day  in  the  model 
school  four  terms  before  graduation.  This  model  school  is  a  school 
of  observation  and  practice,  and  is  established  to  enable  the  nor¬ 
mal  pupils  to  witness  the  various  methods  of  teaching,  and  partici¬ 
pate  in  the  practice  of  teaching  while  yet  pupils  themselves. 

It  has  been  supposed,  by  many,  that  some  portion  of  the  fund 
appropriated  for  the  support  of  the  normal  school,  is  used  for  the 
support  of  the  model  school,  and  that  there  are  local  pecuniary 
advantages  to  those  residing  in  the  vicinity  of  the  university,  in 
the  use  of  this  fund  for  the  support  of  their  common  schools. 
This,  the  committee  are  satisfied,  is  a  mistake. 

In  the  first  place  the  law  expressly  forbids  it ;  and  the  commit¬ 
tee  believe  that  the  board  of  education  have  in  this,  as  in  every 
other  official  act,  studiously,  and  faithfully,  and  with  singleness  of 
purpose,  endeavored  to  carry  out,  in  good  faith,  both  the  letter  and 
spirit  of  the  law.  A  statement  submitted  by  the  principal  of  the 
university  shows  that  the  amount  received  last  year  from  the  nor¬ 
mal  school  district,  for  teaching  district  scholars  and  from  tuition, 
was  about  $3,500  more  than  the  expenses  ;  and  that  the  receipts 
and  expenses  of  the  model  school  for  the  present  year  will  be 


about  as  follows : 

Tuition  of  non-resident  scholars .  $4,415 

From  school  district .  2,800 

$7,215 

Total  amount  of  salaries  (from  regular  teachers,  and  two 

who  teach  a  part  of  the  time) .  4,200 


$3,015 

The  normal  faculty  consists  of  five  professors  and  one  instruc¬ 
tress.  The  president  receives  an  annual  salary  of  $3,000,  and  the 
other  professors  $1,500  each,  and  the  instructress  $900,  making 
total  annual  salaries  $9,900.  The  professors  are  all  married  men ; 
and  the  average  period  of  service  of  the  faculty  is  six  years. 

The  number  of  normal  pupils  is  320,  an  excess  of  seventy-five 
over  any  previous  attendance  ;  and  the  number  in  the  model  school 
is  535,  an  excess  of  175  over  any  previous  attendance. 


95 


As  the  total  amount  received  from  the  State  is  $12,446,  and  the 
salaries  of  the  facility  are  $9,900,  there  is  a  balance  of  only  $2,546 
for  janitor’s  fees,  fuel,  stationery,  expenses  of  members  of  the 
board,  etc.  The  heating  costs  about  $2,300,  and  of  course  there 
is  a  deficit ;  but  this  deficit  has  been  made  up  from  the  proceeds 
or  profit  of  the  model  school — shoiving  that  the  model  school  con¬ 
tributes  to  the  support  of  the  normal  school ,  instead  of  being  a  tax 
upon  it.  This  amount  of  surplus,  however,  cannot  probably  be 
relied  upon  in  the  future,  for  it  is  believed  that  the  services  of  the 
teachers  in  the  model  school  cannot  be  retained,  at  the  salaries  now 
paid  them. 

The  salary  of  the  principal  of  the  high  school  is  $1,400  ;  that  of 
the  principal  of  the  grammar  school,  $1,000;  principal  of  primary 
school,  $650 ;  intermediate  school,  $550  ;  assistant  teacher  in  high 
school,  $400,  and  an  assistant  in  grammar  school,  $200.  The  two 
latter  are,  however,  only  employed  a  part  of  each  day. 

In  relation  to  salaries  of  the  faculty  in  the  normal  school,  the 
president  of  the  board  submitted  to  the  committee  a  memorial  of 
the  faculty,  except  the  president,  addressed  to  the  board  on  the  7th 
of  September  last,  and  a  letter  of  Professor  Edwards  on  the  sub¬ 
ject,  dated  JSIov.  13,  1867.  These  communications,  with  one  of 
the  president  of  the  board,  may  be  found  in  the  journal  of  the 
committee.  The  statement,  in  these  papers,  of  salaries  paid  for 
similar  services  in  other  states,  and  to  teachers  in  schools  in  dif¬ 
ferent  parts  of  this  state,  would  seem  to  be  conclusive  that  the  sal¬ 
aries  paid  elsewhere  are  much  greater  than  in  our  normal  school. 
As  the  committee  have  no  power  to  act  in  relation  to  this  matter, 
they  can  only  express  the  opinion  that  these  salaries  are  very  low  ; 
and  that  the  board  of  education  will  be  compelled,  as  soon  as  they 
may  be  provided  with  additional  means,  to  increase  these  salaries 
or  part  with  the  members  of  their  faculty — a  result  which,  it  seems 
to  the  committee,  would  be  likely  to  be  extremely  prejudicial  to 
the  efficiency  and  usefulness  of  the  university,  and  the  occasion  of 
a  very  general  and  sincere  regret  to  the  people  of  the  state,  in 
whose  service  this  corps  of  faithful  and  competent  teachers  have 
been  so  long  and  successfully  employed.  They  have  acceptably 
filled  their  respective  chairs  for  several  years  ;  and  thus,  and  by 
their  public  lectures  and  services  in  school  institutes,  become  very 
generally  acquainted  and  identified  with  the  teachers  and  educa¬ 
tional  men  of  the  state.  The  utmost  zeal  and  harmony  appear  to 


96 


prevail  among  them.  They  have  families.  At  the  present  time 
their  salaries  are  barely  sufficient  to  support  them,  and  the  appli¬ 
cation,  and  the  reasons  given  by  them,  for  an  increase  of  their 
salaries,  appear  to  be  worthy  of  careful  consideration. 

ALLEN  C.  FULLER, 
ANDREW  J.  HUNTER, 
ELMER  BALDWIN, 

T.  B.  WAKEMAN. 


The  undersigned,  member  of  your  committee,  does  not  feel  war. 
ranted  in  signing  or  indorsing  the  above  report  of  the  majority  of 
your  committee,  without  making  the  following  additional  or  sup¬ 
plemental  statement  of  facts  not  embraced  in  the  report  as  it  now 
stands : 

I  find,  on  inspection  of  the  model  or  auxiliary  department  of 
the  normal  university,  that  negro  and  mulatto  children  are  admit¬ 
ted  and  recognized  as  model  pupils  of  this  state  institution. 

Such  unnatural  and  forced  association  of  black  children  in  the 
same  school-room  with  white  children  is  a  grave  and  important 
question,  which  should  be  considered  at  once  by  the  state  board 
of  education.  To  them,  together  with  the  superintendent  of  pub¬ 
lic  instruction,  belongs  the  entire  question.  It  is  with  them  to 
make  the  change,  or  continue  the  same  custom  and  rule — their 
duties  being  clearly  defined  by  Jhe  act  of  incorporation  directing 
how  the  institution  shall  be  conducted.  Therefore  I  cannot  feel 
authorized  in  directing  or  controlling  their  course  of  duty  in  this 
matter,  but  would  earnestly  suggest  that  this  indiscriminate  and 
reckless  breach  upon  the  long-established  free  white  system  of 
education  throughout  the  state  be  corrected.  Hoping  not  only 
that  the  state  board  of  education  will  at  once  use  every  effort  to 
make  the  normal  university  a  white  institution,  and  that  the  nor¬ 
mal  faculty  should  unhesitatingly  assist  them  in  such  reform. 

Feeling  assured  that  our  duties  to  the  state,  as  a  committee,  are 
fully  discharged  when  the  whole  facts  are  presented  in  accordance 
with  the  resolution  prescribing  our  duties,  consequently  I  shall 
not  enter  into  argument  or  expression  of  mere  opinion,  but  sub¬ 
mit  the  report  and  supplemental  to  the  consideration  of  an  honest 
and  candid  public  opinio^ 


ANDREW  J.  HUNTER. 


97 


DEAF  AND  DUMB  INSTITUTION. 


The  institution  for  the  education  of  the  deaf  and  dumb  was 
incorporated  by  an  act  of  the  legislature,  approved  Feb.  23, 1839. 
The  school  was  opened  January  26,  1846.  There  have  been  sev¬ 
eral  acts  passed  in  relation  to  this  institution,  but  as  there  have 
been  no  controversies  or  general  discussions  concerning  any  of 
their  provisions,  and  no  complaints  of  mismanagement  of  its  affairs 
have  reached  the  committee,  reference  will  here  only  be  made  to 
a  few  of  the  more  important  provisions  of  these  laws. 

The  act  of  1839  provided  that  the  institution  should  be  located 
at  an  eligible  site,  within  four  miles  of  Jacksonville,  provided  a 
donation  of  five  acres  of  suitable  ground  could  be  procured,  within 
said  distance. 

In  order  to  “  aid  the  funds  ”  of  the  institution,  a  sum  not  ex¬ 
ceeding  one  quarter  of  one  per  cent,  of  the  interest  on  the  school, 
college  and  seminary  funds  was  appropriated.  These  funds  at 
that  time  amounted  to  $749,996  02,  and  six  per  cent,  being  the 
amount  of  interest  which  the  state  paid  upon  them,  the  annual 
amount  appropriated  by  this  act  was  $1,874  99.  In  February, 
1847,  the  above  appropriation  was  increased  $3,000  annually. 

The  object  of  the  institution  was  declared  to  be,  to  provide  by 
all  feasible  means  for  the  intellectual,  moral  and  physical  culture 
of  that  unfortunate  portion  of  the  community,  who  had  been 
born,  or  who  by  disease  had  become,  deaf  and  dumb.  The  origi¬ 
nal  act  provided  further  that  the  “indigent”  deaf  and  dumb  who 
were  received,  should  be  provided  with  board,  lodging  and  tuition 
gratuitously,  so  far  as  the  funds  of  the  institution  would  permit ; 
but  after  the  school  had  been  in  operation  about  three  years,  and 
had  received  about  sixty  pupils,  the  law  in  relation  to  paying  pu¬ 
pils  was,  on  the  recommendation  of  the  directors,  changed;  and 
by  the  third  section  of  the  act  of  February,  1849,  all  deaf  and 
dumb  residing  in  the  state,  of  suitable  age  and  capacity  to  receive 
instruction,  were  declared  entitled  to  receive  the  benefits  of  the 
institution  without  charge. 

By  the  tenth  section  of  an  act  of  February  13,  1857,  it  is  pro¬ 
vided  that  where  parents  of  pupils  sent  to  the  institution  were  too 

poor  to  furnish  them  with  good  and  sufficient  clothing,  or  where 
—13 


98 


pupils  were  without  parents,  and  unable  to  furnish  it  themselves, 
the  judge  of  the  county  court  of  the  county  from  which  they 
were  sent  should  certify  the  same  to  the  principal,  who  should 
procure  the  same,  and  charge  the  same  to  the  county. 

On  account  of  this  change  of  policy,  in  making  the  institution 
free,  increased  appropriations  were  required,  and  in  the  same  and 
subsequent  acts  they  were  made,  both  to  enable  the  directors  to 
increase  the  accommodations  for  the  reception  of  pupils,  and  meet 
the  current  expenses  of  the  institution. 

In  February,  1851,  the  legislature  provided  for  an  additional 
“  fund,”  which  should  consist  of  one-sixth  of  a  mill  upon  each 
dollar’s  worth  of  taxable  property  in  the  state,  which  one-sixth 
was  to  be  deducted  from  the  two-mill  tax  then  in  force  for  revenue 
purposes,  and  set  apart  for  this  institution  ;  but  no  more  than 
$120  of  said  fund  should  be  paid  or  used  annually  for  the  support 
of  each  state  pupil;  and  the  excess  of  said  fund  should  be  used 
in  the  erection  of  the  north  wing  of  the  building,  until  that  was 
completed,  and  thereafter  be  transferred  to  the  treasury  for  ordi¬ 
nary  revenue  purposes. 

This  law  remained  in  force  until  February  Id,  1855,  when  it 
and  so  much  of  any  other  acts  as  authorized  the  levying  of  a 
special  tax  for  the  support  of  the  institution,  were  repealed,  and  a 
new  policy  of  supporting  the  institution  by  direct  appropriation, 
instead  of  by  special  taxes,  was  supposed  by  many  to  have  been 
inaugurated. 

An  examination  of  the  present  laws  in  relation  to  this  institu¬ 
tion  will,  however,  show  that  there  are  still  two  sources  ot  receipts. 
So  much  of  the  law  of  1839  which  appropriated  one-fourth  of  one 
per  cent,  of  the  interest  of  the  college  and  seminary  fund  to  the 
support  of  this  institution  was,  in  effect,  repealed  by  the  law  of 
1857,  incorporating  the  normal  university,  lut  was  re-enacted  and 
continued  at  the  last  session  of  the  general  assembly,  so  that  this 
institution  now  receives  the  same  interest  on  the  school,  college 
and  seminary  funds,  as  under  the  original  act  of  1839.  The 
annual  interest  on  these  funds  is  $2,913  51,  which,  added  to 
$45,000  annually,  as  provided  by  the  law  of  1867,  makes  the  annual 
amount  of  aid  by  the  state  $47,913  51,  for  the  years  1867  and  1368. 

It  appears  from  the  reports,  books  and  papers  of  the  institution, 
that  there  has  been  expended,  for  grounds,  buildings,  improve¬ 
ments  and  repairs,  the  following  sums.  (The  original  site  of  six 


99 


acres  was  presented  to  the  institution  by  the  citizens  of  Jackson¬ 


ville  :) 

1S42 .  $6,995  50 

1843-44  .  4,353  43 

1845-46  .  4,7*73  82 

1847-48  .  5,560  65 

1849-50  .  15,691  65 

1851-52 . .  15,88233 

1853-54  . 30,967  11 

1855-56  .  26,863  64 

1857-58  .  41,158  00 

1859-60  . • .  3,566  26 

1861-62  . 12,591  14 

1863-64  .  9,572  13 

1865-66  .  21,144  74 

1867  (appropriation) .  5,800  00 


Total . $204,920  40 


Of  this  amount,  $6,623  60  was  paid  for  land,  including  $989  50 
contributed  by  the  citizens  of  Jacksonville  for  the  purchase  of  a 
site  for  the  institution. 

There  are  fifty-five  acres  of  beautiful  and;  well-cultivated  land, 
belonging  to  the  institution,  lying  about  one  mile  from  the  court 
house,  in  Jacksonville,  suitably  divided  into  lawns,  flower  and 
vegetable  gardens,  and  farm  land.  It  is  believed  that  this  is  all 
the  land  that  is  required,  or  can  be  advantageously  used  by  the 
institution. 

The  main  edifice  of  the  institution  is  236  feet  front,  and  faces 
to  the  east.  The  central  part  of  the  building  is  61  feet  front,  and 
72  feet  deep.  The  north  wing  is  91  feet  front,  each  lateral  section 
of  which  is  50  feet  deep,  and  the  transverse  section  72  feet  deep, 
the  front  and  rear  projecting  11  feet  from  the  lateral  section.  The 
south  wing  is  84  feet  front,  and  fifty  feet  deep — the  front  and  rear 
lines  falling  back  13  feet  from  the  front  and  rear  lines  of  the  cen¬ 
tral  part  of  the  building.  The  building  is  three  stories  high  above 
the  basement.  The  basement  and  first  story  are  of  cut  stone, 
and  the  second  and  third  stories  are  of  brick.  Though  time  and 
experience  have  suggested  several  changes  which  doubtless  would 
be  made,  if  a  building  for  the  same  purpose  was  now  to  be  con¬ 
structed,  yet  with  the  exception  of  the  south  wing  the  building  is 
comfortable,  and  tolerably  well  adapted  to  the  purposes  intended, 

and  upon  the  whole  is  a  very  delightful  home  for  those  who 
occupy  it.  The  south  wing  is,  in  some  respects,  a  failure,  its 

walls  have  cracked,  and  doubtless  before  long  the  comfort  and 


100 


safety  of  the  occupants  will  require  that  they  be  torn  down  and 
rebuilt.  The  basement  is  8  feet  high  in  the  clear,  and  each  of  the 
three  stories  12  feet  in  the  clear.  This  building  is  conveniently 
divided  into  apartments  for  household  and  domestic  purposes, 
school-rooms,  offices,  and  reception  rooms,  and  a  chapel  which  is 
in  the  third  story. 

About  100  feet  in  the  rear  is  an  engine-house,  of  brick,  60  by 
30  feet,  three  stories  high  above  the  basement.  The  basement  is 
occupied  as  an  engine-room ;  and  the  balance  of  the  building  for 
wash,  ironing  and  drying  rooms.  A  part  is  occupied  as  a  hospital. 
There  is  also  a  brick  barn,  60  by  42  feet,  cost  $2,978 ;  and  a  cabi¬ 
net  and  shoe  shop,  one  story  high,  100  by  23  feet,  costing  $2,687. 

The  principal  building  is  warmed  by  steam-pipes,  connecting 
with  the  main  pipe,  running  from  the  engine  house,  and  upon  the 
same  principle  as  that  at  the  hospital  for  the  insane,  heretofore 
described  in  the  report  of  the  committee  upon  that  institution. 
The  ventilation  is  through  the  doors  and  windows,  which  are  so 
arranged  that  such  ventilation  is  very  good. 

The  water  used  is  from  wells  and  cisterns,  which  have  not 
afforded  a  sufficient  supply,  for  ten  years  past,  in  the  winter  season. 
At  the  present  time  there  is  a  serious  inconvenience,  for  the  want 
of  a  supply. 

At  the  last  session  of  the  legislature,  an  appropriation  of  $1, 
800  was  asked,  for  the  purpose  of  securing  an  additional  supply  of 
water,  from  a  large  well  upon  a  piece  of  land  near  the  institution, 
lately  purchased  by  the  directors,  on  account  of  this  well.  The 
appropriation  was  made,  but  no  part  of  it  has  been  expended. 
The  directors  propose,  howTever,  to  expend  so  much  of  it  as  may  be 
necessary,  as  soon  as  some  satisfactory  and  feasible  plan  can  be 
adopted  for  that  purpose.  It  is  thought  this  will  furnish  an  ample 
supply. 

It  also  appears,  from  the  books,  papers  and  reports  of  the 
institution,  that  there  have  been  expended  in  its  support,  since  its 
opening,  January  26,  1846,  the  following  sums : 

1845-46  .  $2,947  54 

1847-48  . 16,106  45 

1849-50  .  13,638  74 

1851-52  .  23,968  47 

1853-54  .  25,046  28 

1855-56  .  30,063  54 

1857-68  .  51,710  46 


101 


1859-60  . $52,753  11 

1861-62  .  59,587  92 

1863-64  . 70,951  90 

1865-66  .  93,146  02 

1867  .  51,733  08 


Total . $491,643  51 

The  general  account  will  then  stand  : 

Expended  for  lands  and  buildings . $204,920  40 

Current  expenses .  491,643  51 


‘  Total . . $696,563  91 


The  total  number  of  pupils  received  into  this  institution  is  675, 
— twenty -four  of  whom  were  from  other  states — leaving  651  from 
our  own  state.  Two  hundred  and  thirty  from  this  state,  and  one 
from" Arkansas,  are  now  in  the  school. 

The  total  expenditure  by  the  state,  including  land  and  build¬ 
ings,  is  about  $1,070  per  pupil ;  and  the  total  amount  expended 
by  the  state  in  current  expenses,  is  about  $755  per  pupil.  The 
current  expenses^of  1865  and  1866  being,  as  above  shown,  $93,- 
146,  or  $46,578  per  year,  and  the  average  attendance  180,  the 
expense  per  pupil  was  $258  74  per  annum.  The  total  expense 
per  pupil,  for  the  year  1867,  is  stated  by  the  principal  at  $265, 
which  is  about  $10  more  annually  for  each  pupil,  than  the  average 
expense  of  several  other  institutions  of  similar  character,  whose 
reports  the  committee  have  examined. 

Of  the  $51,733  08 — current  expenses  for  1867 — $13,922  50 
was  paid  for  salaries;  $4,043  08  for  wages;  and  $33,767  50  for 
ordinary  expenses. 

The  summer  vacation  includes  the  months  of  June,  July, 
August  and  September.  The  fiscal  year  ends  November  30th, 
and  the  year  for  school  purposes  ends  in  May.  The  school  is 
taught  thirty-five  weeks  each  year  ;  and  the  pupils,  with  very  few 
exceptions,  spend  the  vacations  at  home  or  among  their  friends. 

As  the  average  attendance  for  the  year  ending  May,  1867,  was 
180,  and  the  number  of  pupils  in  school  November  30,  1867,  was 
231,  the  average  attendance  for  the  present  school  year  will  be 
considerably  greater  than  the  last  year.  And  as  very  little,  if 
any,  additional  expense  for  teachers  and  employees  will  be  re¬ 
quired,  it  is  believed  the  average  expense  for  the  fiscal  year 
ending  November  30,  1868,  will  be  about  $250  for  each  pupil. 
Should  this  be  the  case,  and  the  average  attendance  be  240,  which 


102 


is  the  maximum  number  which  can  be  accommodated,  then  the 
total  expense  will  be  about  $60,000.  As  this  wrould  be  about  $7 
per  pupil  for  each  week  during  which  the  school  is  kept,  the 
amount  seems  large ;  but  when  it  is  considered  over  30  per  cent, 
of  the  current  expenses  is  on  account  of  salaries  and  w^ages,  and 
which  cannot  be  much  reduced  during  vacation,  it  will  be  seen 
that  the  amount  is  not  very  high. 

The  following  are  the  officers  and  employees,  with  their  annual 
salaries  and  wages,  now  employed  in  the  institution  : 


1  Principal . .  SI, 500  00 

7  Male  teachers .  5,820  00 

5  Female  teachers .  2,300  00 

3  Matrons .  1,100  00 

1  Clerk .  800  00 

1  Physician .  360  00 

1  Superintendent  cabinet  shop .  700  00 

1  Superintendent  shoe  shop . 812  00 

1  Engineer .  600  00 

1  Fireman . 360  00 

1  Gardener. . .  800  00 

1  Baker .  480  00 

1  Teamster .  360  00 

1  Porter .  360  00 

3  Cooks .  744  00 

2  Dining-room  girls .  288  00 

1  Nurse . .*. .  156  00 

1  Laundress .  166  00 

2  Chamber  maids . 288  00 

1  Visitor’s  attendant . 144  00 


$18, 128  00 

The  system  of  instruction  in  this  institution  was  introduced  into 
this  country  in  the  year  1817,  by  Dr.  Gallaudet,  and  known  as  the 
system  of  De  L’Epee  or  Sicard.  It  is  claimed  by  the  teachers  of 
deaf  mutes,  in  this  country,  to  be  superior  to  any  other.  The 
principal,  however,  informed  the  committee  that  he  will  be  ready 
to  adopt  any  other  system  of  instruction  in  this  school,  whenever 
it  shall  be  found  to  surpass  the  one  now  in  use.  It  is,  of  course,  a 
language  of  signs,  with  v^liich  the  committee  have  no  knowledge  ; 
and  they  can  only  join  their  congratulations  vfith  those  of  the 
thousands  of  their  fellow-citizens  in  different  parts  of  the  state, 
who  have  witnessed  the  wonderful  proficiency  of  many  of  these 
pupils,  that  an  institution  of  such  great  efficiency  and  usefulness 
has  been  established,  and  is  now  so  successfully  dispensing  its 
blessings  to  these  silent  sons  and  daughters  of  our  state. 


103 


Concerning  the  government  of  the  institution,  the  committee, 
having  spent  a  few  days  at  the  institution  during  the  past  sum¬ 
mer;  have  some  personal  knowledge;  and  they  would  do  injustice 
to  their  own  feelings,  if  they  did  not  commend  it  to  the  unquali¬ 
fied  confidence  of  the  people  of  the  state.  The  organization  of 
the  institution  seems  to  approximate  as  nearly  as  possible  to  the 
family.  The  easy  and  unrestrained  intercourse  of  officers  and 
pupils,  without  unseemly  familiarity,  evinces  the  mutual  confi¬ 
dence  and  regard  that  are  generally  considered  as  peculiar  to  a 
well-regulated  family.  No  elaborate  code  of  by-laws  and  regula¬ 
tions  for  the  government  ©f  the  institution  has  been  adopted.  Its 
discipline  appears  to  be  kind  but  firm,  and  the  few  simple  rules  in 
force  are  founded  upon  the  idea,  that  it  is  for  the  happiness  of  the 
pupils  to  conform  to  them,  instead  of  the  idea  that  severe  punish¬ 
ment  will  follow  their  violation.  The  school  is,  indeed,  a  well 
regulated  family ;  and  the  uniform  confidence,  respect  and  affec¬ 
tion  manifested  by  the  pupils  to  their  worthy  and  exemplary  corps 
of  officers,  show  that  the  law  of  love  is  the  bond  and  sign  which 
controls  them  all,  in  their  silent  labors  from  year  to  year. 

It  is  estimated  by  the  principal  that  there  are  about  1,500  deaf 
mutes  in  the  state,  and  that  of  that  number  about  one-third  are  of 
suitable  age  to  attend  this  school.  Deducting  from  this  number 
231  now  in  the  school,  and  there  will  still  be  269  remaining  unpro¬ 
vided  for.  The  average  age  of  the  231  now  in  school  is  about  four¬ 
teen  years. 

Of  this  number  (141)  seventeen  are  enrolled  as  pupils  of  the 
institution,  but  for  various  reasons  are  kept  at  their  homes — which 
reduces  the  unprovided  for  to  127. 


SCHOOL  FOR  IDIOTS  AND  IMBECILES. 


Under  the  provisions  of  an  act  approved  Feb.  15,  1865,  an  ex¬ 
perimental  school  was  authorized  to  be  established,  for  the  instruc¬ 
tion  and  training  of  idiots  and  feeble-minded  persons  in  this  State, 
and  was  placed  under  the  charge  and  direction  of  the  directors  of 
the  institution  for  the  instruction  of  the  deaf  and  dumb. 


104 


Five  thousand  dollars  per  annum,  from  March  1, 1865,  to  March 
1,  1867,  was  appropriated ;  and  the  school  was  opened  May 
25,  1865. 

Under  the  act  of  Feb.  28,  1867,  the  sum  of  $14,000  per  annum, 
from  March  1,  1867,  to  March  1,  1860,  was  appropriated,  for  ordi¬ 
nary  expenses,  and  $3,000  for  an  additional  building.  The  prem¬ 
ises  occupied  by  this  school  are  rented,  and  the  directors  have 
secured  the  privilege  of  removing  the  building,  contemplated  by 
the  appropriation,  at  their  pleasure  during  the  term  of  their  lease. 

The  building  has  been  erected,  for  which  the  above  $3,000  was 
appropriated,  and  this  sum,  together  with  $10,000  expended  in 
1865  and  1866,  and  $14,000  for  current  expenses  for  1867,  makes 
the  total  amount  expended  about  $27,000. 

This  school,  commenced  under  the  auspices  of  the  directors  of 
the  deaf  and  dumb  asylum,  was  an  experiment.  It  is  no  longer 
an  experiment.  It  is  a  success.  Like  other  charitable  institutions 
its  field  of  operation  is  the  state.  There  have  been  171  applica¬ 
tions  made,  by  citizens  of  this  state,  for  admissions.  Fifty  have 
been  admitted;  and  there  are  now  thirty-nine  in  attendance.  The 
latter  will  be  increased  to  sixty  by  the  first  of  January,  1868.  The 
school  is  near  the  institution  for  the  deaf  and  dumb,  and  its  loca¬ 
tion  is  a  very  delightful  one.  It  is  under  the  direct  superintend¬ 
ance  of  Dr.  C.  T.  Wilber,  whose  accomplishments,  and  zeal  which 
he  brings  to  the  service,  and  the  ambition  he  appears  to  have  for 
making  the  school  a  permanent  institution,  afford  a  most  encour- 
ageing  guaranty  that  great  good  will  be  accomplished.  His  valu¬ 
able  and  interesting  report  of  December,  1866,  to  the  directors^ 
showing  the  operations  of  similar  institutions  in  other  states,  and 
the  proficiency  made  by  his  own  pupils,  constitute  a  strong  appeal 
and  encouragement  for  increased  aid  from  the  state,  in  behalf  of 
this  important  enterprise. 

ALLEN  C.  FULLEII, 
ANDREW  J.  HUNTER, 
ELMER  BALDWIN, 

T.  B.  WAKEMAN. 

The  following  tabular  statement  shows  the  number  of  pupils 
admitted — the  number  now  in  attendance — and  the  amount  paid 
for  clothing,  by  counties,  respectively  : 


105 


DEAF  AND  DUMB. 


Counties. 


Adams . 

Alexander . 

Bond  . 

Boone  . 

Brown . 

Bureau . 

Calhoun . 

Carroll . 

Cass . 

Champaign . 

Christian . 

Clark . 

Clay . . 

Clinton .....  . . 

Coles . 

Cook  . 

Crawford . . 

Cumberland . . 

DeKalb . 

DeWitt . 

Douglas . 

DuPage . 

Edgar . 

Edwards . 

Effingham . . . 

Fayette . . 

Ford . . 

Franklin . . 

Fulton . 

Gallatin . . . 

Greene . . 

Grundy . 

Hamilton . . 

Hancock . . . . . 

Hardin . . 

Henderson . 

Henry . 

Iroquois . 

Jackson . 

Jasper  . 

Jefferson . 

Jersey . 

JoDaviess . 

Johnson . .  ...... 

Kane . 

Kankakee . 

Kendall . 

Knox . . . 

Lake . 

LaSalle . 

Lawrence  . . 


H 

5$ 

a 

© 

o 

O 

C+ 

P 

3 

p  c 

D 

I--* 

P  ct- 

p 

o 

p 

c+- 

P 

d 

err 

n 

co  H3 

p 

-a 

© 

a. 

p  1 — • 

O  W 

p 

© 

GD 

p 

p 

• 

© 

•  o 

I 

© 

:  * 

o 
£.  o 

CD  =♦ 
GQ  CT 

P 
05 

c* 

© 
o 
p 
p 


33 

9 

6 

$761  45 

4 

3 

2 

6 

1 

1 

1 

29  15 

4 

1 

188  65 

6 

5 

1 

3 

1 

5 

1 

11 

11 

4 

230  64 

1 

2 

1 

45  00 

2 

5 

1 

10 

2 

57  25 

37 

17 

5 

577  35 

4 

2 

3 

1 

2 

1 

1 

70  15 

6 

46  35 

1 

1 

5 

2 

5 

1 

4 

1 

27  60 

3 

1 

3 

1 

7 

1 

2 

4 

1 

3 

2 

1 

- 

3 

3 

1 

16 

7 

1 

74  75 

1 

5 

2 

52  65 

13 

7 

1 

75  92 

2 

1 

7 

3 

2 

2 

2 

1 

8 

1 

•  •  •  • 

86  83 

1 

6 

4 

3 

303  75 

4 

3 

2 

2 

1 

12 

4 

1 

169  16 

3 

2 

14 

6 

1 

79  35 

2 

2 

—14 


106 


Counties. 

Total  No.  pupils. . . 

Now  in  attendance. 

County  pupils  now 
in  attendance. . . . 

Clothing  by  coun- 
ties . 

Lftft . . 

1 

3 

4 

7 

14 

13 

6 

8 

8 

1 

9 

4 

7 

12 

6 

3 

12 

48 

2 

6 

14 

1 

1 

17 

$27  00 

40  45 

Livingston . 

3 

2 

3 

5 

1 

5 

2 

2 

1 

Logan . . . . 

M  soon  . . 

2\ 

73  60 

Maennpin . 

M  ad i .on . . . 

1 

99  27 

M  a.ri  on . . . . 

M  a  rsh  all . . . .  . 

1 

M  a  son . . . 

M  assao  . . . 

M  (*.  Donoiio-h  . 

4 

1 

2 

4 

1 

1 

71  15 

McHenry . . 

M  e.Lean . . . . . . . . 

•  •  •  • 

1 

69  96 

99  30 
145  47 

Menard . 

Mpreer . . . 

Monroe . . . . . . . 

Montgomery . . . . 

8 

10 

1 

4 

5 

1 

166  50 
208  96 

Morgan . 

3 

Moultrie . . 

Ode . 

Peori  a . . . . . . 

3 

105  70 

Perrv . . . . . 

Piatt . . . 

23  00 

Pike . . . 

2 

1 

Popp  . . ............1. ........ 

Pulaski . . 

1 

6 

4 

9 

8 

2 

20 

2 

8 

8 

1 

8 

4 

14 

2 

8 

2 

10 

10 

2 

1 

8 

17 

1 

8 

8 

Putnam . 

1 

3 

4 

4 

1 

6 

Randolph . 

1 

1 

1 

Richland . . . * . . 

Rock  Island . . 

37  00 

Saline . 

Sangamon . 

2 

143  05 

Sehny  ler . 

Scott  . . . 

2 

2 

Shelhv . 

Stark . . . . . 

St.  Clair . . . 

2 

1 

2 

•  •  •  • 

1 

84  55 
171  27 

Stephenson . 

Tazewell . 

TTni on . . . 

Vermilion . . 

2 

1 

1 

3 

1 

1 

O 

Li 

6 

2 

60  80 

W  ah  iish . . . 

Warren . . . 

Washington  . . 

3 

W ayne . 

White . 

Whiteside . 

Will . 

2 

40  00 

Williamson . 

Winnehago. ..  . . 

4 

1 

2 

147  25 

Woodford . 

107 


States. 

Total  No.  pupi’s. . . . 

Now  in  attendance. 

County  pupils  now 
in  attendance. . . . 

| 

Clothing  by  coun¬ 
ties  . 

Arkansas  . 

1 

1 

Wisconsin .  . 

2 

Iowa . 

7 

Missouri . 

14 

675 

231 

61 

$4,680  28 

IMBECILES. 


Adams  .... 
Alexander  . 

Bond . 

Boone . 

Brown  . . . . , 
Bureau  .... 
Calhoun  .  . . 
Carroll  . . . . 

Cass . 

Champaign  . 
Christian  . . . 

Clark . 

Clay . . 

Clinton . 

Coles . . 

Cook. . .  .  . 
Crawford  . . . 
Cumberland. 

DeKalb . 

DeWitt . . . . 
Douglas  .  . . 
DuPuge  . .  . 

Edgar . 

Edwards. . . . 
Effingham  . . 

Fayette . 

Ford . 

Franklin. . . . 

Fulton . 

Gallatin  . . . . 
Greene 
Grundy . . . . , 


Counties. 


o 

2  re 
O  p  pa 

^  o’  £3 
2  S*  P 
f  <*>  g 

co  %  cr 

-  re  <-i 
re  * 
►—  — •  o 
00  <  ^ 
2  to 

•  e  3L 

•  r* 


2 

1 

2 

3 

1 

2 


4 

3 

2 

1 

1 

1 


>-3 

O 

2.  cr  «- 

CD  P 
O  <5  " 


CO  g 
o  <?+ 


5S& 

3  S’ 

3 

P 

re 


p 

c 
3 
o' 
re 
•-» 
r+- 

_  O' 
re  as 
P-  £- 

<  s' 

cr  re 


1 

1 

1 


c 

co  2  C" 
o  ^  to 
-  re  |—s 


r~,  .. 

t»  a  3 

05  CO  C 

-j  2.  § 

-  2  cr 

1.3 

o 

p  P 
-  o 

o 


1  . 
1 
1 


26 


1 

2 


108 


Counties. 

Total  number  < 
cations  rece 
to  Nov.  30, 

Total  number  t 
been  connec 
the  Instituti 
Nov.  30,  186 

Total  number 
the  Instituti 
30, 1867  ... 

of  appli- 
ived  up 
1867  ... 

p  o  p 

*  c 

'  £  3- 

•  ^  wJ.  P 

o  cr» 

now  in 
on  Nov. 

TTnmiltrm . . . 

TTfl.np.Oiik . . . . 

2 

1 

1 

Hardin  . 

ITpndprsnn . . . 

TTpnry . . . . 

3 

Trnmmis . 

.Tapkson . . . . 

3 

1 

1 

•Tastier  . 

.Tpff’prsnn  . . . . 

.Tptsrv  . . . 

1 

Jo  Daviess . 

2 

Johnson .  . . 

TC  an  p . . . 

1 

1 

TCanka.kee . . . 

2 

1 

1 

TCp.nda.il . 

Knoy . 

7 

1 

1 

T.alrp . 

2 

La  Sa.llp  . . . . 

8 

4 

3 

La  wrpnne . . 

2 

1 

1 

Livincrst.on . 

1 

1 

1 

Logan . . . . 

Macon  . . 

2 

1 

Manonnin . 

3 

3 

3 

Madison . 

8 

Marion . . . 

Marshall . . 

2 

1 

•  •  •  •  •••• 

•  •  •  •  • 

M  ason . . . . . 

2 

Massac . 

McDonough . 

2 

1 

1 

McHenry  . . . 

1 

McLean . . . 

6 

2 

2 

Menard . . . .  ... 

3 

Mercer . . . 

Monroe . . . . 

1 

Montgomery . 

1 

Morgan . . . . 

9 

4 

2 

Moultrie . . . . 

Ogle . 

4 

Peoria . . . . . 

6 

3 

3 

Perry . 

Piatt . . . . 

1 

Pike .  . 

3 

1 

1 

Pope . 

1 

Pulaski . 

1 

Putnam . 

Randolph . . . 

Richland . 

1 

Rock  Island . 

Saline . . . 

Sangamon . 

6 

2 

109 


Counties. 

| 

Total  number  of  appli¬ 

cations  received  up 
to  Nov.  30,  1867. . . . 

Total  number  that  have 
been  connected  with 
the  Institution  up  to 
Nov.  30,  1867 . 

Total  number  now  in 
the  Institution,  Nov. 
30,  1867  . 

I 

Schuyler . 

Scott . 

3 

1 

Shelbv . . 

Stark  . 

St.  Clair . 

2 

1 

1 

1 

Stephenson  . 

2 

1 

Tazewell . . 

1 

Union . . . 

Vermilion . 

Wabash . 

W arren  . . . . 

Washington . 

1 

Wayne . 

White . 

Whiteside . 

2 

1 

1 

Will . 

7 

1 

1 

Williamson . 

1 

1 

Winnebago . .  . 

4 

Woodford . 

Arkansas  ....  . . 

1 

Iudiana . 

2 

Iowa . 

4 

2 

2 

Michigan  ....  . 

1 

Missouri . 

1 

1 

1 

Tennessee . 

1 

Wisconsin  . 

8 

184 

50 

39 

INSTITUTION  FOR  THE  BLIND. 


The  institution  for  the  education  of  the  blind  was  organized 
under  an  act  of  January  13,  1819,  which  appointed  five  trustees 
to  manage  its  affairs.  The  second  section  of  the  act  declared  the 
object  of  the  corporation  to  be  to  continue  and  maintain  the  school 
for  the  education  of  the  blind,  established  in  Jacksonville,  and  to 
qualify,  as  far  as  practicable,  that  unfortunate  class  of  persons  for 
the  enjoyment  of  the  blessings  of  free  government,  obtaining  the 
means  of  subsistence,  and  the  discharge  of  those  duties,  social  and 
political,  devolving  upon  American  citizens.  The  5th  and  16th 


110 


sections  declared  that  all  blind  persons  residing  in  Illinois,  of 
suitable  age  and  capacity  to  receive  instruction,  shall  be  received 
and  taught  in  said  school,  and  enjoy  all  the  benefits  and  privileges 
of  the  same  free  of  charge. 

The  trustees  were  required,  as  early  as  practicable,  to  purchase, 
in  or  near  Jacksonville,  a  suitable  lot  of  ground,  containing  not 
less  than  ten  nor  more  than  fifty  acres,  and  proceed  to  erect  there¬ 
on  a  suitable  building,  and  make  such  arrangements  as  were  neces¬ 
sary  for  the  school.  For  this  purpose  three  thousand  dollars  were, 
by  the  14th  section  of  the  act,  appropriated  “  to  aid  in  the  estab¬ 
lishment  of  the  school ;  ”  and  by  the  12th  section  it  was  further 
provided  that  there  should  be  paid  to  the  trustees,  for  the  use  of 
the  institution,  the  proceeds  of  a  tax  of  one-tenth  of  a  mill  upon 
the  taxable  property  of  the  state.  This  12th  section,  creating  the 
tax,  was  repealed  February  14,  1865. 

The  trustees  appointed  by  the  act  immediately  organized,  and 
in  April  of  the  same  year  seven  pupils  were  received,  in  tempo¬ 
rary  quarters  provided  for  them.  During  the  same  summer  the 
present  site,  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  town  of  Jacksonville,  and 
consisting  of  twenty-two  acres  of  land,  was  purchased  of  the  estate 
of  Col.  Hardin,  for  $1,683  75  ;  and  in  January,  1854,  the  building 
now  standing  upon  said  site  was  occupied  for  school  purposes. 

The  main  edifice  is  of  brick,  fronting  to  the  south,  116  feet 
long,  and  66  feet  deep,  and  is  five  stories  high.  The  first  story  or 
basement  is  two  feet  above  the  surface  of  the  ground,  and  12  feet 
high.  The  second  story  or  main  floor  is  also  12  feet  high ;  the 
third  11  feet;  the  fourth  15J,  and  the  fifth  11  feet  high;  and  un¬ 
der  the  whole  building  is  a  cellar  8  feet  deep. 

The  building  is  well  heated  by  four  hot  air  furnaces  in  the  cel¬ 
lar.  There  is  no  other  provision  for  ventilation  except  outside 
openings. 

There  is  also  upon  the  premises  a  workshop,  of  brick,  two  stories 
high,  60  by  30  feet ;  a  laundry  and  bake-house,  of  brick,  two 
stories  high,  48  by  25  feet,  and  a  frame  barn,  75  by  25  feet. 

It  appears  from  various  reports,  books  and  papers  on  file,  that 
the  following  sums  have  been  expended  for  building  and  improve¬ 
ments  : 


Ill 


In  1849-50 
1851-52 
1853-54 
1855-56 
1857-58 
1859-60 
1861-62 
1863-64 
1865-66 
1867 


$3,863  11 
31,159  26 
28,583  52 
7,149  36 
5,665  79 
2,396  08 
2,866  99 
1,011  96 
,  3,704  13 
3,855  58 


For  current  expenses: 


1849-50 

1851-52 

1853-54 

1855-56 

1857-58 

1859-60 

1861-62 

1863-64 

1865-66 

1867 


$5,856  21 
11,510  47 
16,761  70 
20,946  78 
24,768  79 
26,477  88 
25,020  00 
27,862  32 
35,645  25 
25,043  37 


- $219,892  77 

Less  received  from  sales  of  manufactured  arti¬ 


cles,  and  receipts  at  institution  to  Dec.  1,  1867,  21,403  22 


$90,255  78 


198,489  55 


$228,745  33 

Since  the  opening  of  this  school,  in  1849,  there  have  been  three 
hundred  and  one  pupils  admitted  ;  and  prior  to  December  1, 1866, 
one  hundred  and  ninety-nine  had  completed  their  course  of  in¬ 
struction  and  returned  to  their  homes;  and  five  had  died.  There 
are  now  in  the  institution  eighty-two,  and  that  number  is  all  that 
can  be  comfortably  accommodated. 

It  will  thus  be  seen  that  there  has  been  expended,  for  lands, 
buildings  and  current  expenses,  about  $960  for  each  pupil  received; 
and  as  current  expenses  for  each  pupil  received,  about  $660. 

The  current  expense  account  for  year  ending  December  1, 1867, 
was  $25,043  37,  less  $1,927  39,  received  from  sales,  etc. ;  and  the 
average  attendance,  80  ;  showing  the  annual  expense,  per  pupil, 
for  past  year,  was  $228.  The  school  is  taught  42  weeks  each 
year,  and  the  friends  of  the  pupils  are  required  to  take  charge  of 
and  provide  for  them  during  vacation. 


112 


There  are  at  present  employed  at  the  institution  the  following 
officers  and  employees : 


1  Superintendent,  annual  salary 

1  Matron . 

1  Ass’t  Matron. . .  “ 

1  Assistant  in  shop  ‘  ‘ 

4  Teachers,  total  salary . 

11  Employees,  “  . 


$1,000  and  board. 
400  “ 

250  “ 

480  “ 

2,900 
2,136 

$7,166 


These  salaries  appear  entirely  reasonable,  and  the  committee 
are  satisfied  that,  although  everything  needful  is  done  to  make 
these  pupils  comfortable,  yet  there  is  no  extravagance,  and  the 
utmost  care  seems  to  be  taken  to  secure  economy  in  every  depart¬ 
ment.  The  genial  and  worthy  superintendent,  and  his  accom¬ 
plished  lady,  who  is  the  matron,  appear  to  be  untiring  in  their 
kindness,  and  with  singleness  of  purpose  devote  their  time  and 
talents  to  maintain  good  order,  and  exert  a  truly  parental  influ¬ 
ence  over  the  school. 

So  far  the  institution  seems  to  have  fully  answered  the  benefi¬ 
cent  purposes  intended  in  its  creation;  and  it  is  a  gratifying  fact 
that,  for  several  years  past,  no  blind  person,  of  suitable  age  to  be 
instructed,  has  been  refused  admission.  There  is  not  the  same 
difficulty  in  ascertaining  the  number  of  blind  in  the  state,  as  was 
experienced  in  enumerating  the  insane.  The  census  of  1860 
shows  that  there  were  then  475  blind  persons  in  the  state;  and 
that  of  that  number  there  were  but  nine  under  five  years ;  26  be¬ 
tween  five  and  ten ;  29  between  ten  and  fifteen,  and  53  between 
fifteen  and  twenty.  There  were  83  between  twenty  and  thirty, 
and  64  between  thirty  and  forty,  and  40  between  forty  and  fifty 
years. 

Of  the  80  in  the  institution  in  January  last,  three  were  nine 
years  old ;  53  between  ten  and  twenty  years ;  23  between  twenty 
and  thirty  years,  and  one  forty  years.  Of  the  82  in  the  institu¬ 
tion  December  3,  1867,  there  were  four  aged  nine  years  ;  eight 
aged  ten  years,  and  three  aged  eleven  years.  Forty -four  were 
females,  of  an  average  age  of  fifteen  and  three-seventh  years ; 
thirty  males,  in  literary  department,  of  average  of  fourteen  years, 
and  eight  males  learning  the  broom  trade,  of  average  of  twenty- 
four  vears. 


113 


Referring  to  the  statistics  of  the  deaf  and  dumb,  it  will  be  seen 
that  the  average  age  of  the  blind  is  considerably  greater  than  the 
deaf  and  dumb,  in  school ;  and  after  making  allowance  (by  in¬ 
crease  of  population)  of  the  number  of  the  blind,  from  1860,  it  is 
evident  that  the  number  of  this  class  in  the  state  is  far  less  than 
deaf  and  dumb;  and  is  accounted  for,  principally,  from  the  fact 
that  blindness  arises  more  especially  as  a  consequence  of  disease 
and  exposure  of  adult  life,  and  from  age,  while  deaf-muteism  is 
generally  a  consequence  of  diseases  of  childhood. 

ALLEN  C.  FULLER, 
ANDREW  J.  HUNTER, 
ELMER  BALDWIN, 

T.  B.  WAKEMAN. 

The  following  tabular  statement  shows  the  number  admitted, 
and  the  number  now  in  attendance,  by  counties,  respectively : 


Counties, 


Adams  . . . . 
Alexander  . 

Bond . 

Boone. . . 
Brown  . .  . . 
Bureau  . . . . 
Calhoun. . . . 
Carroll  . . . . 

Cass . 

Champaign. 
Christian  . . 

Clark . 

Clay . 

Clinton  . .  . 

Coles . 

Cook . 

Crawford  . . 
Cumberland 
DeKalb  . . . . 
DeWitt  . . . . 
Douglas. . . . 
DuPage. . . . 

Edgar . 

Edwards  . . . 
Effingham . . 
Fayette  . . . . 

Ford . 

Franklin  ..  . 
Fulton . 


Counties. 


Gallatin.  . . 
Greene  . . . 
Grundy  . . . 
Hamilton  . 
Hancock. . 
Hardin, . . . 
Henderson 
Henry.  . . . 
Iroquois  . . 
Jackson. . 
Jasper  , . . . 
Jefferson  . 
Jersey.  . . . 
Jo  Daviess 
Johnson  . . 

Kane . 

Kankakee  . 
Kendall . . . 

Knox . 

Lake . 

LaSalle  . . . 
Lawrence  . 

Lee . 

Livingston 
Logan  . . . . 
Macon 
Macoupin  . 
Madison  . . 
Marion  . . . 


15 


114 


Counties. 


Counties. 


H 

o 

<-*- 

P 


p 

Cu 

B 

<rt- 

c-t- 

O 

P- 


e 

3 

cr 

ct> 


*T3 

•-j 

CD 

cn 

ct> 

B 

C"t- 


Marshall  . . 
Mason  . . . . 
Massac  . . . 
McDonoug 


McHenry  . . . 
McLean  . . .. 
Menard 
Mercer  . . . . 
Monroe 
Montgomery 
Morgan  . . . . 


2 

7 

2 

3 

3 


12 


2 

3 


• 

1 

1 

• 

1 

4 


Moultrie  .  , . 

Ogle . 

Peoria  .... 

Perry . 

Piatt  . 

Pike . 

Pope . 

Pulaski  .... 
Putnam  .... 
Randolph  . . 
Richland. . . 
Rock  Island 


2 

3 

3 


15 


1 

8 

2 

4 


3 


1 


Saline . 

1 

Sangamon . 

10 

Y 

Schuyler . . . 

1 

Scott . 

5 

She lhy . 

2 

1 

Stark  . . . 

2 

St.  Clair . 

3 

1 

Stephenson . 

6 

4 

Tazewell . 

4 

2 

Union . 

Vermilion . . 1 . 

2 

3 

Wabash . . 

1 

Warren .  . 

W  ashington . 

Wayne .  . 

3 

1 

White . *. . 

7 

6 

Whiteside . 

3 

Will . 

6 

Williamson . 

Winnebago . 

5 

1 

Woodford . 

Total . 

301 

82 

/ 


♦ 

REPORT  OF  JOINT  COMMITTEE. 


The  foregoing  reports  and  evidence  and  papers  relating  thereto, 
having  been  referred  to  the  Committee  on  State  Institutions  of 
the  House,  said  Committee  would  respectfully  report  [that  the 
evidence  relates  solely  to  the  management  of  the  Hospital  for  the 
Insane,  and  that  the  report  of  the  committee  of  investigation  com 
tains  a  fair  and  substantial  abstract  of  so  much  of  said  evidence 
as  appears  necessary  to  an  understanding  of  the  subjects  of  the 
investigation. 

From  an  examination  of  said  reports  and  evidence,  we  are  satis, 
fied  that  the  investigation  was  thorough  and  impartial,  and  adopt 
the  conclusions  arrived  at  by  said  investigating  committee, 
j February  20,  1869. 

H.  C.  Childs,  Chairman 
Samuel  Wiley, 

Geo.  Gaylord, 

Charles  G.  Reade, 

E.  H.  Talbott, 

C.  W.  Marsh, 

Geo.  W.  Parker, 

A.  Kin  yon, 

N.  R.  Casey, 

John  W.  Ross, 

S.  R.  Saltonstall, 

Jos.  Cooper, 

Committee  on  State  Institutions  of  the  House. 


The  undersigned,  Committee  on  State  Institutions  of  the 
Senate,  in  compliance  with  a  joint  resolution  of  this  General 
Assembly,  directing  them  to  report  an  abstract  of  the  testimony 


taken  by  the  Committee,  appointed  by  the  25th  General  Assem¬ 
bly,  to  investigate  the  affairs  of  the  Hospital  for  the  Insane,  and 
other  State  Institutions,  respectfully  report : 

That  they  have  adopted  the  abstract  of  the  evidence  as  found 
in  the  report  of  said  Investigating  Committee,  to  his  excellency, 
the  Governor,  and  have  caused  the  said  report  to  be  printed  in 
full ;  and  herewith  submit  the  same  for  the  consideration  of  the 
Senate. 

John  McNulta,  Chairman, 
John  H.  Addams, 

William  Patton, 

J.  D.  Ward, 

T.  A.  Boyd, 

J.  L.  Tincher, 

S.  R.  Chittenden, 

Jas.  M.  Epler, 

J.  J.  R.  Turney, 

Committee  on  State  Institutions  for  the  Senate . 


